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igflif Emerald. 


<$xm tU femmt 

OF 

WILLIAM REDENBACHER, 


BY 


A. H. LOCHMAN, D.D., 

TRANSLATOR OF THE “BASKET OF FLOWERS." 


“ A sound heart is the life of the flesh ; but envy the rottenness of 
the bones." 





Ns s ^ ? qt 

PHILADELPHIA: 
LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 
42 North Ninth St. 

1872. 




' 





♦ 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by 
LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


STEREOTYPED BY J. FAGAN & SON, PHILADELPHIA. 



CAXTON PRESS OF SHERMAN & CO, 



CHAPTER I. 

Friedungen g 

CHAPTER II. 

Mr. Leuthold 15 

CHAPTER III. 

The Two Master-Workmen . . . .22 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Dinner-Time 26 

CHAPTER V. 

✓ 

The Embroidered Neckties . . . .22 


CHAPTER VI. 

The Unhappy Locksmith 

1 * 


37 


v 


CONTENTS. 


vi 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Rod 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Gratitude and Envy . . . . 

CHAPTER IX. 

A Scene at the Carpenter’s Home . 


CHAPTER X. 

The Garden at the New House 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Emerald 

CHAPTER XII. 

How Mr. Leuthold Acts in the Matter . 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Locksmith brings an Accusation against 
Mr. Leuthold 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Continued Suspicion, and its Results 


CHAPTER XV. 


PAGE 

42 

46 

52 

59 

64 

70 

78 

85 


The Hostess of the “Swan” 


. 90 


CONTENTS. 


vii 

CHAPTER XVI. 

The Triumph of Love ioo 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Toothache 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Walk to Felseneck 114 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Blessed in Heaven 129 

CHAPTER XX. 

Going to Church 137 

CHAPTER XXI. 

The Emerald Found 144 

CHAPTER XXII. 

The Locksmith’s Death 154 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

The Funeral 160 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

A Quiet,. Peaceful Life 165 


viii 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER XXV. 

A Life of Usefulness . 


PAGB 

. I69 


New Life 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


• 175 


1 




The Emerald. 


CHAPTER I. 

FRIED UNGEN. 

T the time our story commences, a gen- 



l \ tleman might have been seen standing 
at a window in the upper story of an unfin- 
ished building, looking down a broad street, 
which served for a market-place for the vil- 
lage, which was called Friedungert, and con- 
tained about two thousand inhabitants. 

The market-place, instead of being square, 
was rather of an oval or elliptical form. 
From the middle, where the street was 
broadest, the houses on both sides of the 
street, and towards the east and west, gently 


9 



10 


THE EMERALD. 


inclined nearer to each other, yet not quite so 
much towards the west as the east, assuming 
nearly the shape of an egg. At both ends, 
narrow streets diverged in every direction. 

The streets were paved, but it had been 
better they were not ; for it was evident that 
neither line nor level was used in their con- 
struction ; large and small stones were used 
indiscriminately — some jutting out and 
others sunken, some perpendicular and others 
slanting ; and here and there, along the deep 
ruts formed by the loaded teams, they stood 
as large as sugar-loaves. The weary and 
footsore traveller heaved many a sigh as he 
stumbled over them, and vehicles and pas- 
sengers groaned in unison, whilst many an 
anathema was uttered against the authorities 
of the place. 

The houses, too, were not equally imposing. 
The Rathhaus towered above all others in 
height, and surpassed them in external ap- 


FRIEDUNGEN. 


II 


pearance ; the lower story was built of mas- 
sive stone; the upper of frame-work, com- 
posed of heavy timbers, surmounted with a 
small steeple, in which was the town-clock. 
The whole was beautifully painted a bright 
red color. 

Next to the Rathhaus stood the village 
inn, with the sign of the Swan (at least, it was 
called a swan). Of this inn I at present will 
only describe jts exquisitely beautiful sign. 
It represented a great sea, whose shores were 

skirted with flowering rushes — on whose 

* 

bosom a, snow-white swan swam majestically; 
in the back ground was an extended water 
view, and in the far distance, on a craggy cliff, 
loomed up a royal castle. 

The most stately structure of the whole 
village, on the opposite side of the street, was 
unquestionably the one at whose window, as 
previously stated, the gentleman stood, taking 
a view of the place. It was yet in an unfin- 


12 


THE EMERALD. 


ished state. It was a huge building of two 
stories ; with its peaked roof rivalling in 
height the steeple of the Rathhaus. On 
each side of the door was a wing with four 
windows ; in the second story there were 
nine windows corresponding with the appear- 
ance below. The red tiles on its roof and the 
high chimneys presented an imposing ap- 
pearance, whilst the water-spouts at the cor- 
ners glittered in the sunshine from the roof 
to the pavement. This house was a great 
improvement to the market-place of Friedun- 
gen. And what rendered the location still 
more attractive was, that not far from it was 
a fountain spouting forth its waters, and some 
of the houses were covered with creeping 
vines and their court-yards full of blooming 
flowers of every hue. 

Whatever might have been wanted to add 
to the beauty of the town, was fully compen- 
sated by its charming surroundings. To- 


friedungen. 


13 


wards the north, it was situated at the base of 
a mountain, whose gentle slope was planted 
with the choicest fruit-trees, and whose steeper 
ascent and top were crowned with stately 
oaks and the wide-spreading beech, and a 
variety of other trees, among whose thick 
foliage hosts of birds warbled their sweetest 
songs. Towards the south, well - cultivated 
gardens tastefully laid out, from the rear of 
the houses to a small stream abounding in 
fish, and from which, on a summer’s day, 
might be seen a number of persons, with 
their watering-cans filled to revive the droop- 
ing plants and vegetation of their grounds. 
On the other side of the stream there were 
large meadows of flowery, sweet-smelling 
clover, and fields of grain rolling like sea- 
waves in the breeze. Many a sleepless and 
troubled one, in the stillness of midnight, had 
his mind soothed and hi<£ heart - trouble 

calmed and lulled into forgetfulness, as he 
2 


14 


THE EMERALD. 


listened to the sweet trilling notes of the 
nightingale — choristers whom God has cre- 
ated and sent for this very purpose. 

A short distance above and below the vil- 
lage, the valley became very narrow, so that 
Friedungen seemed to lie in quiet isolation 
and rest from the wide world: 

Far above, where opposite mountains 
seemed to approach each other and blend 
their peaks, stood an ancient castle, and 
lower down, seemingly bidding defiance to 
the other, stood a second castle. These and 
smaller castles with their yet well-preserved 
towers, appeared to stand as sentinels to 
guard the secluded village and its surround- 
ings. 




CHAPTER II. 

MR. LEUTHOLD. 

HIS gentleman, to whom allusion has 



JL been made twice already, with a pleas- 
ant, smiling countenance, greeted all who 
passed by the dwelling at whose window he 
stood. He was attired in a coat of fine 
brown broadcloth, with a spotless white vest, 
but partly concealing the bosom of a linen 
shirt of the finest texture; on the index 
finger of the right hand he wore a heavy 
gold ring. His address, though far superior 
to the ordinary dwellers in Friedungen, was 
not indicative of that of a nobleman ; and his 
dwelling, though excelling others around it, 
yet could not be called a castle. 

A short sketch of his history will be neces- 


5 


1 6 


THE EMERALD. 


sary to complete our narrative, as it will be 
highly interesting to the reader. He was, 
until the time he is here introduced, a 
merchant, doing an extensive shipping busi- 
ness with foreign countries, in a seaport city 
at a distance from Friedungen. Not long 
before his settlement here, a most sad and 
mournful calamity befell him, which almost 
crushed his heart. With his youthful wife 
he had lived in the enjoyment of perfect con- 
jugal felicity. But one sad day, whilst 
standing at the wharf anxiously awaiting her 
on the appointed day of her return from a 
visit to her father, he had already descried 
the vessel bearing the loved one, with full 
sails flying as it were before the wind, for 
there was a strong breeze. As it approached, 
he saw her on the deck waving her hand- 
kerchief in joyful recognition, when sud- 
denly a furious northeastern blast struck 
the ill-fated vessel, whirled it around, and 


MR. LEUTHOLD. 


1 7 

raising it upon a mountain billow, dashed 
it upon the breakers near the shore a com- 
plete wreck ; and all on board save a few 
found a watery grave. Among the lost was 
the beloved youthful bride. 

We may to some extent imagine the in- 
tense grief of Mr. Leuthold at having his 
hopes blasted at the very instant his heart 
was elated with the prospect of embracing 
his wife — to have the cup of joy snatched 
from him as he was about pressing it to his 
lips. With a heart riven, as the oak by the 
lightning’s dart, he returned to his now deso- 
late home. He, however, knew where to go 
for grace to sustain him ; for he was well as- 
sured that his dear one loved the Lord Jesus 
even more than she had loved him, and that 
her ransomed spirit was now with Him in 
mansions more beautiful than those of earth, 
and that from His hands he would again re- 
ceive her in a glorified form and dwell with her 
2* B 


l8 THE EMERALD. 

forever. He did not therefore, overpowered 
by his grief, give way to despondency, but 
with meek submission to a mysterious Provi- 
dence looked for and rested in the consola- 
tions of the religion of Jesus Christ, knowing 
that it possessed a balm for every wound. 
Nor was he disappointed in his trust: a sweet 
peace and holy calm filled his soul ; so that 
with a melancholy pleasure he could call to 
remembrance the image of her whom he so 
ardently loved ; persuaded that he was upon 
a journey, on a safe vessel nearing a secure 
harbor, on whose shores she was standing ; 
and again in joyful recognition would hail him 
welcome home. 

Whilst religion sustains us amidst our se- 
verest trials, it does not eradicate the feelings 
and claims of nature: the Christian still is 
human. Everything around Mr. Leuthold 
revived the memories of the past. The 
parlor where they sat, the piano from which 


MR. LEUTHOLD. 


19 


her gentle touch brought forth familiar and 
sweet notes, the fireside around which they 
conversed — revived recollections which he 
could scarcely endure. Everything in his 
home appeared so lonely, the charm and the 
joy of his heart was gone. The sea with its 
broad expanse, upon which he used to gaze 
with pleasure, now continually reproduced 
the mournful scene; involuntarily he shud- 
dered when he looked out upon its rolling 
waves, and started in his sleep when he heard 
the rushing of the waves and howlings of the 
storm. 

Hence he resolved to sell his house, his 
goods, his vessels, and to move from the 
scenes of his trial into the interior, and to 
settle in some retired place, where he might 
in some degree recover his former tranquillity 
of mind. This resolve he carried into exe- 
cution, and travelled without having any 
definite place in view, until he came to 


20 


THE EMERALD. 


Friedungen. Here, from the inn of the 
Swan, where he had taken lodgings, he 
saw an old dilapidated building, with a 
large garden overgrown with weeds; and 
upon inquiry finding it was for sale, he pur- 
chased it, tore down the old house and began 
to build a new one, which was now nearly 
completed. In the meantime, he boarded at 
the inn, and daily, when the weather per- 
mitted, he took his walks through the sur- 
rounding groves, communing through nature 
with nature’s God. In his neatly-furnished 
room he employed his time in reading, espe- 
cially in the Book of books. Sometimes of 
an evening he would go into the lower room 
of the inn, where a few farmers gathered 
together to talk of the events of the day, and 
endeavored to lead the conversation upon 
subjects of a useful and religious character. 

The inhabitants of Friedungen were glad 
to have him settle in their midst, not only 


MR. LEUTHOLD. 


21 


because he was wealthy, and would con- 
tribute to the prosperity of the village, but 
more especially because they found him 
kind, and sociable, and agreeable, and be- 
cause of his moral worth and strictly reli- 
gious character. 

He was thirty-six years old, and his name 
was Leuthold. 




CHAPTER III. 

THE TWO MASTER-WORKMEN. 

I T was a matter of no small importance 
for the village of Friedungen, that a man 
of means had settled among them, and under- 
taken so costly a building, for it gave em- 
ployment to a number of workmen, and scat- 
tered a large sum of money among them. 

Mr. Leuthold often went to see the men as 
they were engaged in their work, not only to 
encourage them, but to become acquainted 
with their characters and dispositions. 

As he entered, one day, he found them all 
busily engaged. The plasterer was putting 
pn the last coat. Another was polishing a 
stone, bringing out in bold relief the royal 
coat of arms on its sides. The paper-hanger. 


22 


THE TWO MASTER- WORKMEN. 23 

with his assistant, was putting on a rich blue- 
tinted paper, &c. ; his friendly greetings en- 
livened them all. 

In passing from room to room, he found 
in one of them two men at work, whose 
countenances struck him as indicative of a 
great difference of character and disposition — 
the one a carpenter, the other a locksmith. 
The carpenter, short and rather stout built, 
with a pleasant countenance, was kneeling 
on the floor polishing the panels of the doors 
and the window - frames and sashes. He 
poured a little oil upon them, rubbed and 
breathed on it and rubbed again, and, as he 
began to see the reflection of his face in them, 
his eyes seemed to beam with delight, a 
pleasant smile playing upon his lips. 

He was a good-natured, kind-hearted man, 
and contented with his lot; and yet there 
was something in his countenance, and in the 
playful twinkle of his eyes, which plainly 


24 


THE EMERALD. 


showed that he loved a little fun, and at times 
an innocent joke; though he never suffered 
himself to indulge in this natural disposition 
at the expense of virtue and religion, but was 
often very severe and sarcastic against those 
who indulged in anything unbecoming and 
sinful. 

Mr. Leuthold, with a pleasant smile, turned 
from this man to the other, who was putting 
on a costly lock on an inner door. Neid- 
hart, the locksmith, was a young man of good 
appearance, at least a head taller than the 
carpenter, with a well-proportioned physical 
frame and rather handsome face. There was, 
however, something wanting to render him 
agreeable. The moroseness of his counte- 
nance, the glare of the eye, the paleness of 
his face, seemed to tell of something within ; 
an unhappy disposition which distorted to 
some extent his otherwise well-lined features. 
He was also emaciated, and the muscles of 


THE TWO MASTER-WORKMEN. 25 

his bare arm, enlarged by continued exertion, 
seemed to hang loosely. 

This man seemed to be the only one who 
felt no pleasure and had no enjoyment in his 
work ; with mechanical skilfulness and ac- 
curacy he adjusted the well-polished lock, 
but he looked so irritable and sullen as 
though he wished it were the last he had to 
put on. He drew in his thin, pale lips, and 
now and then cast an envious glance upon 
the carpenter. There was something in his 
countenance very repulsive, and indicated 
that he had no affectionate regard for any one. 
Mr. Leuthold withdrew from him with no 
favorable impressions. 

3 




CHAPTER IV. 

THE DINNER-TIME. 

S the bell from the church in a neigh- 



boring street was pealing the noonday 
hour, the workmen, as was the custom in 
those days, laid aside their tools and hastened 
to their respective homes to dinner. 

Neidhart, whose home was near by, was 
the first to reach his house. He entered into 
a small yet pleasant room ; everything was in 
complete order, and perfectly clean. As he 
arrived, his wife was just bringing in the din- 
ner, and, as she placed it upon the table, she 
greeted her husband with a cheerful, pleas- 
ant smile. 

Mrs. Neidhart was yet young and rather 
pretty, but had little color in her face ; her 


THE DINNER-TIME. 


2 7 


cheeks were pale, but tinged with a hectic 
flush ; there was nothing gloomy in her coun- 
tenance, yet there was something of low-spir- 
itedness and a melancholy air which told that 
some inward sorrow was preying upon her 
mind, and withal she was pleasant, mild, and 
gentle. 

As was her usual custom at her meals, she 
asked a blessing upon their frugal meal, in- 
viting the Lord Jesus to be their guest ; whilst 
the children, with folded hands, stood by her 
side — with reverence she repeats a well- 
known German prayer : 

“ Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, 

And let what thou bestow’st be blest.” 

Whilst the wife was thus engaged, the hus- 
band stood aside whetting his knife. 

Now father and mother and the two children 
sat down to eat Their meal consisted of 
bread, a dish of vegetables, and a half pound 


28 


THE EMERALD. 


of mutton, a good piece and full weight ; for 
the butcher, being a relative, out of kindness 
to the mother and children, always favored 
her. The mother cut a slice of bread for 
each, and to the vegetables they could help 
themselves ; but the meat was placed before 
the father, who cut off three very small 
pieces for his wife and children, the rest he 
kept for himself. , The little girl cast anxious 
glances at the meat, of which she had scarcely 
a taste, and was about to make an attempt 
with her fork to reach a piece, but a glance 
from her mother caused her to desist. The 
mother and son contented themselves with 
the good bread and vegetables. 

The wife began to speak with feelings of 
gratitude of the kind providence of God, by 
which they were provided with work and the 
means of support, and alluded especially to the 
settling of Mr. Leuthold in their midst, who 
said to all his workmen that they should make 


THE DINNER-TIME. 


2 9 

such charges as would yield them a comfort- 
able support. 

The locksmith, however, would not lend a 
listening ear to what she said, but remarked 
that Mr. Leuthold must have very bad eyes, 
not to see that the floor of the large room 
up-stairs was laid very unevenly ; that at the 
end where he stood, it was raised some inches 
higher than at the other. 

The wife was very much surprised and dis- 
tressed at this, and replied : 

“ My dear husband, how can that be ? Mr. 
Dichlein is an excellent mechanic, and as 
particular in his work as any one you know.” 

“ How can you contradict me,” he testily 
answered; “you did not see it.” , 

“ My dear husband,” she mildly replied, “ I 
pray you, don’t repeat what you have said, 
for fear the carpenter might get to hear it, 
and it might cause great disturbance between 

our families ; and you know they always have 
3 * 


30 


THE EMERALD. 


been very kind to us. We are on very pleas- 
ant terms.” 

The locksmith hastily gulped down the re- 
maining portion of the meat, and went 
through the garden down to the stream, to 
fish until one o’clock, when he had to return 
to his work. The mother repeated a few 
verses of a psalm, and returned thanks to God 
for His goodness. 

As she was gathering together the remains 
of the meal for supper, there was a knock at 
the door, and several poor children piteously 
begged for something to eat, as they were 
very hungry. The mother kindly took the 
dish in which some of the vegetables re- 
mained, set it on a bench at the door, and 
gave each a piece of bread. Just as they 
were eating, the husband returned, for a large 
fish had torn his hook from the line. As he 
spied the hungry children eating, he said : 

“Holloa! what is this? Where is my 


THE DINNER-TIME. 


31 


whip ? I ’ll teach beggars to come around 
my house ! Off with you this instant, or I ’ll 
give you another kind of food.” 

The poor children were greatly frightened; 
one hastily put what he had into his mouth 
and almost strangled; whilst the other slipped 
some of the contents of the dish into his bag, 
and both ran with haste from the house. 
They heard the voice of the angry man at 
some distance from the house, neither they 
nor the speaker reflecting that “ The wicked 
begrudgeth the morsel of the poor, and with- 
holdeth his hand from the needy.” 




CHAPTER V. 

THE EMBROIDERED NECKTIES. 

FEW days later, Louisa, the wife of 



1 jL the locksmith, came into the room, 
flat-iron in hand, her face more flushed than 
usual ; perhaps occasioned by the heat of the 
fire, as she was ironing, or because her hus- 
band used harsh language and treated her 
roughly, accusing her of hindering him at 
his work, and of burning his best coals. 
She went to a board lying on the backs 
of two chairs, and began ironing some neck- 
ties which belonged to Mr. Leuthold. He 
had inquired of his hostess at the inn for 
some one to whom he could more safely 
intrust them than his ordinary washerwoman, 
for they were very valuable and beautifully 


THE EMBROIDERED NECKTIES. 33 

embroidered. His hostess recommended 
Mrs. Neidhart, who, in her single days, was 
considered the best washer and sewer in the 
place, and had always attended to such work 
for the Frau Burgomaster, and would no 
doubt cheerfully undertake it for him, as she 
was very obliging, and desirous of earning a 
little to assist in supporting her family. 

While she was thus engaged, the children, 
who tenderly loved their mother, were stand- 
ing near, eagerly looking on. Franciska, 
commonly called “little Franz,” was six 
years old ; in appearance, the very picture of 
her mother, but in disposition more like her 
father. Max was of the age of five, the 
image of his father, but more like his mother 
in meekness, and mildness of temper. 

“ Dear mother,” said Max, “ you have 
washed these things so white that the gen- 
tleman will no doubt praise you very much.” 

“Yes, my dear,” returned the mother, “I 
C 


34 


THE EMERALD. 


wish our hearts were as pure, but they are 
not so easily made white. We will pray 
to God every day that His Holy Spirit may 
cleanse us from all impurity.” 

“ Mother,” replied the boy, “ you have 
taught us a verse from the Bible, ‘ The blood 
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us 
from all sin.' ” 

“ Yes, dear child, that is true; and it means 
that our heavenly Father, notwithstanding 
our sinfulness, will be gracious unto us ; be- 
cause the Saviour has shed His blood for us, 
He will forgive us all our transgressions.” 

“ Oh, how good is our heavenly Father ! ” 
exclaimed Max. 

“ He is, indeed ! ” said his mother. “ But 
we should, therefore, be very thankful, and 
endeavor to remove everything that is bad 
out of our hearts ; and, as we cannot do this 
of ourselves, we must pray for the Holy 
Spirit, who will assist us.” 


THE EMBROIDERED NECKTIES. 35 

“ Mother, I know a verse which says, 
< Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my 
God. Thy Spirit is good; guide me in the 
right way.’ ” 

Louisa embraced her son and kissed him. 

The neckties were now ironed and 
smoothly folded, and as she examined the 
beautiful embroidery, the mother called the 
attention of the children to it, saying : 

“Only look, children, — but don’t touch, 
you might soil them, — look at the splendid 
work ! the beautiful flowers, with leaves so 
natural, and the lace-work : how skilful the 
person who did this must have been !” 

“ When I am grown,” said Franciska, “ I 
will make some work more perfect and beau- 
tiful than this, so that everybody will be 
astonished.” 

“ My dear child,” said the mother, with a 
smile, “ you will never come to such perfec- 
tion” 


36 


THE EMERALD. 


“ Why not, mother ? The person who 
made this was certainly not the best in the 
whole world.” 

“ But, mother,” added Max, “ you can 
make as fine work as that.” 

“ Oh, no, child. How could I have learned 
it in our village ? and even if I had been in a 
large city, and had the best teachers, my fin- 
gers would not have been adapted to it. I, 
however, admire such work, and wonder that 
God has made fingers capable of it.” 

All having admired the work a little longer, 
the mother folded, wrapped it up carefully, 
and carried it to her friend the hostess of the 
Swan, to hand to the owner. 






CHAPTER VI. 

THE UNHAPPY LOCKSMITH. 

“This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.” 

B EFORE the new house in the market- 
place stood a large wagon, which now 
contained only a little straw. Mr. Leuthold 
had been in the city and purchased furniture. 
The carpenter, with the assistance of the 
locksmith, had just unloaded the wagon, and 
both are arranging the goods in those rooms, 
which are now finished. We will enter and 
see what they are doing. 

Mr. Dichlein examined the articles, which 
they had carefully dusted and arranged, with 
the eye of a master-workman ; and, although 
at first he might have thought that he was 
4 37 




38 


THE EMERALD. 


mechanic enough to have made them almost 
as well himself, yet, when he examined the 
correctness and beauty of the carved work, 
he was fain to admit that it exceeded his 
skill. He refrained, however, from express- 
ing his admiration and praise until he re- 
marked the sour and envious countenance of 
Neidhart, who was examining the beautiful 
locks on some of the furniture. This aroused 
the roguish disposition in Dichlein, and he 
began to admire and praise the elegant pat- 
terns, the bright polish, and exquisite work-, 
manship of the different pieces ; and then, 
with a mischievous eye turned upon the 
locksmith, he descanted eloquently upon the 
beauty and finish of the locks on the bureaus 
and clothes-presses, etc., the exactness and 
skill with which they were put on ; he then 
examined and tried the keys, how exactly 
they fit, and how easily they worked, and 
finally sarcastically remarked : 


THE UNHAPPY LOCKSMITH. 39 

“ Honor to whom honor is due, Mr. Neid- 
hart; the best workmen, after all, are found 
in the cities ; we in the country are but poor 
mechanics compared with them.” 

Seeing the effect this had upon the 
selfish, conceited locksmith, he drew out one 
drawer after another, and tried the locks 
again and again, exclaiming: 

“ How they click ! what elastic springs ! 
Ah, Mr. Neidhart, they are masterpieces ! ” 

The locksmith’s countenance betrayed the 
envious feelings which were aroused within ; 
it became more morose and sour than ever, 
and he bit his lips with chagrin and anger, 
and silently withdrew. 

The carpenter laughed in his sleeve, and 
enjoyed the effects of his sarcastic remarks. 
This, as well as his whole procedure, was 
indeed wrong; but he was endeavoring to 
cure his fellow-workman of his selfishness 
and envy. His course, however, was not the 


40 


THE EMERALD. 


best, for the Scripture saith we shall not pro- 
voke each other to wrath. 

The locksmith left in no very pleasant 
mood, and turned his steps homeward. To 
his house was attached a garden, extending 
in a narrow strip to the water’s edge. On a 
small grass-plot, under the overshadowing 
branches of a tree, his wife and children 
were sitting around a large dish of sour milk, 
into which she had broken some bread, 
which constituted their very frugal supper. 
She was in a peculiarly happy frame of mind, 
and seeing the scowl upon her husband’s 
countenance, addressed him in the most affec- 
tionate manner: 

“ Dear husband, what makes you look so 
down-hearted ? See how I and the children 
relish our fare, and how our heavenly Father, 
in His goodness, is gilding the scene around 
with the rays of the setting sun, to gladden 
our hearts. Come, sit down with your 


THE UNHAPPY LOCKSMITH. 41 

family on God’s soft green carpet ; ” and 
handing him a spoon, she added, “ share our 
supper with us ; your sausage you can eat 
afterwards in the house.” 

Little Max jumped up, and taking his 
father by the hand, and drawing him to the 
spot, said: 

“Dear father, come and eat with us; it 
tastes so very good.” 

Ill-naturedly and roughly, he pushed the 
lad away, and went and sat under a willow on 
the banks of the stream. There he wildly 
gazed into the crystal stream which mirrored 
the mild rays of the setting sun, whilst his 
distorted imagination pictured to his sight 
the hated polished locks on Mr. Leuthold’s 
furniture, and this filled his heart with envy, 
thus verifying the declaration of the Preacher: 
“ I considered every right work, that for this 
a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also 
vanity and vexation of spirit.” 


4 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE ROD. 

O NE day, the locksmith’s little Franz 
was punished by her mother. 

She had secretly taken from a little box of 
her mother’s, a necklace, to which was at- 
tached a highly-polished stone, and putting 
it around her neck, went out to enjoy herself 
with her playmates. True, the necklace was 
not a very valuable one, nor the stone very 
precious. Yet for this act of disobedience, 
the mother felt it her duty, not only to repri- 
mand, but to punish the child. This was so 
unusual an event with the kind mother, that 
the child was very much alarmed, and cried : 

“ Mother! mother! I have n’t done anything 
wrong; why will you punish me?” 


42 


THE ROD. 


43 


Her mother replied : 

“ You have n’t done anything wrong? Who 
gave you leave to go to my box and take out 
the necklace ? ” 

“You were not at home,” sobbed Franz, 
“ or I certainly would have asked you.” 

“Then,” said the mother, “you should 
have waited until you could have asked me. 
If children take things without permission, it 
is wrong, and deserves punishment.” 

“ Do, please, mother, forgive me,” pleaded 
the child ; “ it was not so very bad — ” 

“ Not so very bad ? What induced you to 
put the chain around your neck ? ” 

“ I wanted to wear an ornament like the 
other girls,” said Franz. 

“Yes, child; I know the reason very well. 
Yesterday, you said, rather enviously, that 
Mina, one of the neighbor’s children, had a 
brilliant stone hanging to a beautiful chain 
around her neck, and that all the people were 


44 


THE EMERALD. 


admiring her. So, my child, you could not 
bear to see others praised, and wished to have 
people look at and admire you. This was 
the reason why you took my chain, and 
decked yourself with it. This was pride and 
envy, both great sins; and, therefore, I must 
punish you.” 

“ Oh, mother,” cried Franciska, “ I will do 
so no more: don t hurt me; for I am your 
only daughter.” 

“ You have hurt me" said her mother, “ by 
your disobedience. I, your mother, have 
been very kind to you, and have done more 
for you than you have ever done for me. I 
have no pleasure in punishing you ; but if I 
do not, you will the more readily forget your 
promise to do better in future.” 

The mother took the rod and punished the 
little girl rather severely, so that she cried 
aloud for pain. Max, from sympathy, wept 
also, and ran to his mother, saying : 


THE ROD. 45 

“ Mother, dear mother, stop ! Give me the 
rest; I ’ll bear it for my sister.” 

What a noble boy ! What a dear brother ! 
Oh, that all brothers and sisters were like 
him. But many, instead of pitying one 
another when they are punished, rejoice and 
laugh. This manifests a wicked disposition, 
and parents should never allow such conduct, 
but should teach their children how mean, as 
well as wrong, it is to rejoice when others 
are suffering pain, even though deserved. 

The mother, after the punishment, took the 
chain, bedewed it with her tears, and locked 
it up in its usual place. 



CHAPTER VIII. 


GRATITUDE AND ENVY. 


“Envy is rottenness of the bones.” — Prov. xiv. 30. 

M R. LEUTHOLD’S house was now 
entirely finished, and he had called 
the laborers together to pay to each what was 
yet due him. 

The locksmith was paid liberal wages, and 
received a considerable amount. The car- 
penter, however, who had so much work to 
do in making doors, windows, and laying the 
floors, and the winding stairs with their mas- 
sive railings, that he not only had been kept 
diligently at work every day, but had been 
obliged to employ a number of workmen, 
whom he had to superintend, so that the 
amount he received was quite a large sum. 

46 


GRATITUDE AND ENVY. 


47 


In order to pay him, Mr. Leuthold brought 
out a l^rge bag of bright thalers, and a 
drawer containing new gold pieces. The 
locksmith could scarcely endure the thought 
that the carpenter should receive so much 
silver -and gold, and felt inclined to go away, 
but seemed spellbound and riveted to the 
spot until the carpenter received what was 
due him. But who can describe the envy 
which raged within his bosom. 

Mr. Dichlein, filled with grateful emotions 
for the providential care of his heavenly Fa- 
ther in furnishing him with so profitable a 
job, was in the best of humors, so that he 
would not have said a word to the envious 
locksmith, who looked at him with a kind of 
sneering contempt ; but the latter, unable to 
conceal his feelings, was imprudent enough 
to insinuate something about ingratiating 
one’s self into favor, and then overcharging. 

The carpenter, though conscious this re- 


48 


THE EMERALD. 


mark was intended for him, seemed not to 
take notice of it; yet felt a mischievous de- 
sire to annoy the locksmith. He therefore 
left the heap of dollars and little piles of gold 
lie on the table, and with seeming pleasure 
gazed upon them, and then turning to his 
fellow-workman, said : 

“A fine sum of money, Mr. Neidhart! 
Pure silver from the mine, fine gold from 
America,” then taking up some pieces and 
balancing them upon his fingers, and striking 
them together, said : “ Hear how they jingle! 
they have the pure ring, no bogus about 
them ! ” 

After the carpenter had carried on the fun, 
as he called it, for a while, and found that his 
sarcastic remarks had cut to the quick, he 
tied his money in his handkerchief and 
passed by his neighbor, bending as under 
a heavy load, and carried it home. 

The locksmith also then left, and, scarcely 


GRATITUDE AND ENVY. 


49 


knowing what he was doing, went to his 
workshop, kindled the fire, worked his bel- 
lows fiercely, heated a piece of iron red-hot, 
laid it upon ;the anvil and, taking his sledge- 
hammer, struck it such vigorous blows in 
rapid succession that the sparks flew in all 
directions. He looked at them with ill-na- 
tured pleasure, as though he felt the gold 
pieces of the carpenter were flying from his 
grasp. He hammered away until he had 
beaten the iron nearly to pieces, then with 
an oath threw his tongs aside. 

From his shop he entered into the house, 
where his wife was sitting, engaged in cheer- 
ful conversation with three little girls, her tf 
own little Franz and two of the carpenter’s 
daughters, whom she was teaching embroid- 
ery. He slammed the door so violently, that 
they all were alarmed, and trembled. The 
sight of the carpenter’s children capped the 
climax of his wrath, and aroused his anger 
5 l> 


So 


THE EMERALD. 


to the highest pitch ; and addressing his wife 
in a rage, he said : 

“ Can’t you find anything better to do, than 
to invite these children to our house, and to 
teach them ? ” 

“ Am I not teaching our child with them ? ” 
returned his wife. “ We ought, as Christians, 
to be neighborly, and help each other.” 

He answered, rudely : 

“ Must we help such people to save money? 
Their father, honestly or dishonestly, no mat- 
ter which, carries home heaps of gold and 
silver; let him send for some one from the 
city to teach his children. Get out of my 
house ! or — ” 

The two little girls were alarmed, and 
trembled in every joint. Louisa, also, was 
so affected, that she could not speak a kindly 
parting word to them. 

The wife, knowing that her husband was to 
receive his pay for his work this day, ex- 


GRATITUDE AND ENVY. 


51 


pected to find him return in a pleasant mood, 
and had endeavored to afford him an agree- 
able surprise, by procuring from her own 
earnings something extra for his dinner. She 
placed it before him, and with a kind but fal- 
tering voice invited him to sit down. He 
would neither eat nor drink, but lay down 
upon a bench, his countenance lowering, his 
eyes fierce, breast heaving, and his hands and 
feet trembling with nervous excitement, veri- 
fying the proverb : “ Envy is rottenness of the 
bones.” 



CHAPTER IX. 

A SCENE AT THE CARPENTER'S HOME. 

W HAT?” cried Mr. Dichlein, as his 
little daughters came home, and 
told him how they were treated by the lock- 
smith. “ What ? my own dear children, my 
own flesh and blood, rudely driven from the 
house by such a fellow as that ! ” 

“ Dear me,” said his wife, “ don’t speak so 
loud ; all the people in the street will hear 
you.” 

“What do I care,” exclaimed the car- 
penter ; “ I say he is a mean fellow, hear it 
who may.” 

“You,” returned his wife, “are to some 
degree the cause of it yourself. This is the 

result of your jesting and sarcasm. What use 

52 


SCENE AT THE CARPENTER’S HOME. 53 

was there of making so much ado about the 
money in his presence? This love of fun 
seems to have been born in you.” 

The carpenter laughed heartily, whilst, in 
his excited state of feeling, he used his 
hammer with double force in driving some 
nails. 

“That’s the way to treat such fellows,” 
said he. “ Neidhart, (envious fellow,) the mis- 
erable wretch ! That ’s his name, and that ’s 
his nature too.” 

“Don’t abuse him on account of his 
name ! that ’s no fault of his,” said the good 
woman. 

“ The rat,” continued Dichlein, “ who 
would carry everything into his own nest, 
and would n’t leave anything for others.” 

“Don’t make him so bad as that,” re- 
monstrated his wife. 

“ He is a second Cain who envied his 
brother.” 

5 * 


54 


THE EMERALD. 


“ Do stop ! ” 

“As bad as the fellow who begrudged 
Isaac his riches and flocks.” 

“ Husband, husband, do stop!” 

“ Worse than the sons of Jacob who envied 
their brother Joseph.” 

“ Do please stop ! you yourself are far 
from being as good as Joseph.” 

“ Compared with him, I am more pious 
than Joseph, even if he goes to church 
every day. The heathen, the — ” 

“Well! Husband, this is none of our 
business.” 

“ It is none of his business,” said Dichlein, 
hotly, “that I earn more money than he; and 
how dare he seek to blacken my character, 
injure my reputation, by insinuating that I 
slighted my work and overcharged Mr. 
Leuthold ; ah, the villain ! he cannot bear to 
see even the vine under which he sits 
flourish and blossom.” 


SCENE AT THE CARPENTER’S HOME. 55 

The carpenter now seemed to have talked 
himself into a better humor; but the wife 
appeared deeply hurt, and said: 

“Your tongue, my dear husband, is an 
unruly evil, full of deadly poison. I cannot 
endure such language.” 

“ Well, well ! Envy is the worst of all 
sins, wife. It is the horse upon which the 
devil rides. Yes, Satan sits upon his heart, 
and is riding it the downward road — ” 

“Ah, husband, I tell you you are not to 
be his judge.” 

“Yes, you are right, Martha,” said the 
carpenter, after a pause. “He has a Judge 
above, and a judge within ; the foolish man 
is his own judge; as often as he sees his 
neighbor rejoice in God’s blessings, he 
pierces his own heart with daggers. But for 
such a fellow to turn my own flesh and blood 
out of his house. I ’ll pay him for that, as 
certain as my name is Dichlein.” 


56 


THE EMERALD. 


The carpenter was suddenly silenced, for 
the locksmith’s wife had just entered the 
door. 

“ Good-evening,” she said, in a very pleas- 
ant manner, at the same time laying upon the 
table some dresses which had been given her 
to alter. 

“ Much obliged, Louisa,” said the car- 
penter’s wife ; “ what do I owe you ? ” 

“ All the pay I ask is that you may come 
again, Martha.” 

“ That won’t do, Louisa; I want to pay 
you.” 

“ I owe you for the footstool your husband 
made for me ; we ’ll call it even.” 

“ Don’t say anything about the footstool ; 
you have paid that over and over again by 
teaching my children.” 

You know, Martha, good neighbors 
don’t make such exact calculations, and we 
wish to remain friends,” so saying, the lock- 


SCENE AT THE CARPENTER’S HOME. 57 

smith’s wife grasped the hands of her neigh- 
bors, and in the most winning and affec- 
tionate manner, added, “ We all wish to re- 
main on the most friendly terms, don’t we ? 
Love and harmony among neighbors is of 
the greatest importance. And love, Mr. 
Dichlein, can overlook and forgive many 
provocations.” 

The carpenter was deeply affected ; kindlier 
feelings were awakened within, so that all 
anger towards his neighbor vanished. He 
pressed the hand of the locksmith’s wife 
again and again, saying, “ All the past shall 
be forgotten — forgotten ; we will continue 
good friends.” 

“ True and faithful all our lives,” added his 
wife. 

Mrs. Neidhart, then turning to the girls, 
affectionately invited them to come to her 
house to-morrow, to resume the lessons in 
embroidery. 


58 


THE EMERALD. 


When she was gone, the carpenter said : 
“ Such a man and such a woman united 
in marriage ! olive-tree and bramble-bush ! 
hawk and bird of Paradise ! 

“And what kind of a bird do you call your 
Martha?” said his wife, with a happy smile. 




CHAPTER X. 

THE GARDENAT THE NEW HOUSE. 

M R. LEUTHOLD had a beautiful sum- 
mer lodge built at the upper end 
of his garden. 'It was of an octagon form, 
covered with a Chinese roof projecting on 
all sides. The peak was surmounted with a 
gilt ornament in the shape of an acorn. 
Through the lattice-work, beautiful flowering, 
creeping vines gracefully entwined them- 
selves. It was situated on elevated ground, 
so that from its cushioned seats you could 
overlook the whole garden, with its beds of 
the choicest plants and flowers of variegated 
hue, and in the distance have a view of 
gently sloping hills and towering mountains. 
Mr. Leuthold had just been reading an 

59 


6o 


THE EMERALD. 


interesting and instructive book, which was 
yet lying on the table in the lodge. He was 
now walking amidst the beds of flowers, 
which threw their sweet fragrance upon the 
summer’s breeze. He wended his way to a 
beautiful fountain spouting its jets high in 
the air, in whose spray miniature rainbows, 
with their rich prismatic colors, regaled the 
eye. In a basin, at the foot of the fountain, 
gold and silver fishes playfully swam, and, as 
Mr. Leuthold rang a little bell, they came 
towards him, and fearlessly devoured some 
food he threw into the water. There were 
also some large glass globes standing round, 
in which were reflected, in miniature land- 
scapes, the whole surrounding scenery. Pass- 
ing from the fountain, delighted with the 
beauty and regaled by the sweet perfume of 
the flowers, he ascended by a circuitous foot- 
path to a high mound, on which stood a 
rustic bench. From this elevated position 


THE GARDEN AT THE NEW HOUSE. 6 1 

he had a view not only of his own beautiful 
garden, but of a number of others, which 
gently sloped towards the water’s edge, whilst 
grassy meadows, with their sportive flocks 
and undulating fields of waving grain, were 
seen beyond the stream. 

After Mr. Leuthold had for a while regaled 
himself with the beauty of nature, he went 
down to the shore, and unloosed the chain of 
a pleasure-boat which was fastened there, and 
leisurely sailed between the flower-skirt banks 
of the narrow stream. The calm and placid 
water, on whose bosom he was gliding along, 
had a soothing and tranquillizing effect, whilst 
still it brought back the remembrance of the 
storm on the ocean, with its heart-rending 
catastrophe. 

The garden was separated from those of the 
neighbors by a low narrow wall topped with 
small pickets. The locksmith and his wife 

were at work in their garden, which bordered 
6 


62 


THE EMERALD. 


on that of Mr. Leuthold, and had observed 
him all the time. 

“ How unequally and unjustly are the 
things of this world distributed,” said the 
locksmith. “We have a poor bit of a gar- 
den, whilst he has a magnificent one! We 
have to labor until the sweat rolls from us, 
and our limbs ache, whilst our neighbor 
lolls on his easy lounge, reads an entertaining 
book, walks among sweet-smelling flowers, 
and takes a pleasant sail upon the waters.” 

“ Let him enjoy what God has bestowed,” 
said his wife, “and let us be grateful, and 
enjoy what God has given us. Labor and 
toil are the consequences of sin; but our 
heavenly Father has associated with it many 
enjoyments and blessings, if we would only 
try to realize them. Honest labor, whilst we 
seek to maintain a pure conscience, will 
provide for our necessary wants, make us 
relish our food, and give us refreshing sleep. 


THE GARDEN AT THE NEW HOUSE. 63 

I think there would be more misery, unhap- 
piness, and discontentedness than there even 
now is, if people had nothing to do.” 

“ These are some of your religious notions, 
wife, which I don’t understand. But why 
must he be always enjoying himself? ” 

“ Who knows what sorrows he has had to 
pass through ? ” returned the thoughtful wife. 
“ Have you not taken notice how dejected 
and sorrowful he appears, when he stands 
beside yonder white marble slab under the 
weeping - willow ? My dear husband, rest 
assured every one has his troubles as well as 
enjoyments. God has wisely apportioned 
them as He sees is^best for His children.” 

The locksmith, absorbed in his thoughts, 
cut in two, with his spade, a large worm 
which he had just dug out of the earth, and 
appeared to feast himself on the agony in 
which the divided pieces seemed to writhe. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE EMERALD. 

W HILST sailing in the boat, Mr. 

Leuthold had the misfortune, in 
taking out his pocket-handkerchief, to draw 
out a key and drop it into the water, where 
it was very deep. He noticed it immediately, 
and was the more concerned about its loss as 
it was the key of the drawer which contained 
precious jewels, and things of great value; 
he consoled himself, however, with the idea 
that it was lost where no one would be likely 
to find it. 

The next morning he sent for Neid- 
hart to open the drawer, and to have a new 
key made. The locksmith brought with him 
a large ring, on which were a number of keys 

64 


THE EMERALD. 65 

of all sizes and patterns. He tried one after 
another ; but the lock was of such a peculiar 
workmanship that none of his keys would fit. 
At last his anger was roused, and he began 
to rail at the man who would make such a 
“ confounded ” lock that no key could open. 
In an irritated frame of mind, he took a key, 
and, forcing it into the lock, turned and pulled 
at it until, by a sudden wrench, the drawer 
was jerked out. It was the upper drawer of 
the bureau, and, as is usually the case, was 
quite small. 

But what valuables did it, though small, 
contain ! These lay in scattered confusion, 
occasioned by the violence used in forcing the 
drawer out. There were gold pieces, large 
and small; heavy golden chains, rings, pins 
with glittering diamonds, the most costly 
watches, ivory inlaid with pearl, and upon a 
crimson cushion an emerald of exceeding 
beauty and great value. Neidhart gazed 
6* E 


66 


THE EMERALD. 


until his eyes were blinded, and until his 
heart lusted after the treasures. His mind 
was so intensely taken up with what was be- 
fore him, that he had to be reminded that the 
lock was to be taken off ; in doing which 
he took as much time as would have been 
sufficient to take off and repair half a dozen. 
With a heart full of envious feelings he left 
for home. 

What he did next, I know not, but about 
an hour after he was lying on his bed asleep. 
It could not havel>een because he was tired — 
indeed, he had scarcely worked three hours 
the whole day ; perhaps he was overcome by 
the contending feelings within. He slept; 
but his spirit had no rest : or perhaps there 
was some new cause of disquietude. He 
turned restlessly from side to side ; his bosom 
heaved with sighs ; the muscles of his face 
twitched ; the fingers of his right hand were 
grasping at something intangible; a cold 


THE EMERALD. 


67 


sweat stood upon his forehead, and suddenly 
he uttered a wild shriek. He dreamed that 
he was in a large old castle, standing before 
an open casket filled with gold and costly 
jewelry; that he grasped a handful, and was 
running off with it, when he was pursued by 
a police-officer, arrested, brought before the 
criminal court, and tried ; that in great terror 
he confessed his guilt, and in his dream he 
cried out aloud, “ Mercy ! mercy ! I have 
stolen it, but with deep penitence I will re- 
store it ! ” Quite overcome with fear he 
awoke, cold drops of sweat standing upon his 
forehead. As he looked around he saw old 
Mrs. Hirshman — who had come in while he 
was asleep — just leaving the room, shaking 
her head significantly. This did not, however, 
trouble him very much, as she often did so 
without cause, and he was not conscious that 
he had spoken aloud while asleep. 

In the afternoon, the old woman called on 


68 


THE EMERALD. 


Mr. Leuthold’s housekeeper, by whom she 
was always treated to a good cup of coffee. 
She found her friend in a peculiar state of ex- 
citement, her hand trembling so that she 
spilled some of the coffee. The cause of her 
agitation was that Mr. Leuthold, greatly per- 
turbed, had just informed her that he missed 
a precious stone from the drawer which the 
locksmith had opened in the morning. She 
was afraid that perhaps suspicion might fall 
upon her, as she had been in the room several 
times during the day. And even though 
he might have full confidence in her honesty, 
yet she felt so deep an interest in his pros- 
perity, that she sympathized sincerely with 
him on account of his loss. 

Mr. Leuthold felt the loss deeply, not 
merely because of the value of the emerald, 
but on account of certain associations con- 
nected with it. 

As the housekeeper told Mrs. Hirshman 


THE EMERALD. 


69 

the cause of her trouble and excitement, it 
was very natural that the old lady should 
tell her what she had witnessed a few hours 
before in the locksmith’s house, and repeat 
the words she heard him utter; and it was 
equally so that the housekeeper would imme- 
diately tell Mr. Leuthold. 




CHAPTER XII. 

HOW MR. LEUTHOLD ACTS IN THE CASE. 

M R. LEUTHOLD summoned Mrs. 

Hirshman to appear before him, 
and requested her to tell him all she had 
seen and heard. In doing so, she depicted 
in glowing colors the contortions of the 
face and the tremor of the limbs of the 
locksmith ; adding, “ He is the thief, and no 
one else ! ” 

Mr. Leuthold replied that this was by no 
means certain, and strictly enjoined upon her 
and his housekeeper not to say a word to 
any person about it. 

He himself, however, visited the locksmith, 
whom he found alone with his wife. At first, 

Mr. Leuthold thought of requesting the wife 

70 


HOW MR. LEUTHOLD ACTS. 71 

to withdraw ; but when he looked upon her 
open and placid countenance, he thought it 
better for her to remain. In a serious and 
forcible manner, and yet with great calmness, 
he told him of his loss, of which he was now 
quite certain, having made a thorough search. 
He stated what the old woman had repeated. 
At the same time he did not conceal the sus- 
picion he himself entertained that the emerald 
was taken by him. 

“ Dear sir,” he continued, “ we are some- 
times placed in such circumstances, and the 
temptation is so great, that in an unguarded 
moment we do something which we imme- 
diately are sorry for. If this has been your 
case, the best way for you is to make a full, 
penitent confession, and restore the jewel: 
you will thus secure forgiveness from your 
God. And I assure you that I will not only 
not prosecute you, but will also keep the 
matter entirely to myself. I have also strictly 


72 


THE EMERALD. 


enjoined it upon the women not to say a word 
about this ; and if the loss should be made 
known, it could not harm you ; for I could 
say the emerald has been found. If you per- 
sist in denying it, and keep the jewel in your 
possession, it cannot possibly be of any 
advantage to you, for you would not dare to 
offer it for sale. If you are in need of money, 
you may confidently apply to me ; I will let 
you have as much as you need, without se- 
curity or interest. Only restore to me the 
jewel, which, as a souvenir of a sainted friend, 
is of incalculable value to me.” 

The locksmith’s wife turned pale as death 
while Mr. Leuthold was speaking. Her hus- 
band also at first appeared greatly alarmed, 
but gradually, while Mr. Leuthold was speak- 
ing, regained his composure ; and when that 
gentleman had ended his remarks, the lock- 
smith jumped up from his seat with great 
anger and indignation, and began to rave and 


HOW MR. LEUTHOLD ACTS. 73 

storm, and in a violent manner declared, “ No 
one has ever dared to accuse me of such an 
act. Sir, I will hold you responsible for this 
accusation.” 

Mr. Leuthold coolly remarked : “ In that 
case, Mrs. Hirshman must be called to give her 
testimony. And the court, under the circum- 
stances, will certainly justify me in speaking 
to you in the manner I have done.” 

“ It was nothing but an idle dream I had,” 
said Neidhart ; “ in which the old witch heard 
me say some foolish things. No court will 
receive as testimony what is said in a dream. 
Once more, sir, be you who you may, I will 
not let myself be branded as a thief by you!” 

“ Don’t be angry,” returned Mr. Leuthold ; 
“ moderate yourself a little : let us talk over 
the matter calmly. You perhaps were not 
aware that it was so precious a stone ; and 
probably thought it was merely a piece of 
highly -polished glass, which might be a 
7 


74 


THE EMERALD. 


pretty plaything for your children. Think 
well before you act.” 

The locksmith, in reply, loudly asserted 
his innocence, though more calmly and mod- 
erately than before ; for he was now con- 
vinced that the expressions in his dream, just 
at the time the emerald was missing, would 
bear strongly against him. 

His poor wife was so agitated by what she 
heard, that a tremor seized her whole frame, 
and for a while was unable to speak a word ; 
but becoming a little more composed, she 
said : " It was utterly impossible for her hus- 
band to have taken the emerald,” and in her 
most earnest and eloquent manner main- 
tained his integrity and the honor of her 
family. Placing her hand upon her breast, 
she protested before God that, “ as long as she 
had »known her husband, she had never 
known him to take even a cent’s worth un- 
justly. He was an honest man, who main- 


HOW MR. LEUTHOLD ACTS. 75 

tained himself and family by the labor of his 
hands, and one who would rather starve than 
be guilty of stealing anything. She ad- 
mitted that circumstances looked rather sus- 
picious, but that many innocent persons had 
upon such evidence been unjustly con- 
demned. Mr. Leuthold, a good and pious 
man, would certainly not, without incontro- 
vertible proof, consider his neighbor a thief. 
We are indeed poor, possessing little of this 
world’s goods, but we desire to carry our 
good name with us to our graves, and leave 
it as an inheritance to our children.” 

While thus speaking, she was so greatly 
agitated that tears rolled down her cheeks, 
and her countenance withal was so indicative 
of innocence, that Mr. Leuthold, himself 
deeply impressed, could not say a word, but 
quietly bidding him good-bye, left the house. 

Upon his return, he was perplexed, 
scarcely knowing what course to pursue. 


7 6 


THE EMERALD. 


He had, the day before the theft, taken out the 
drawer, and found the emerald safe in its place; 
he was not out of his room from the time the 
locksmith came until after dinner, when, as 
he was removing the contents of the drawer 
to another, he missed the jewel ; and with the 
exception of his housekeeper, as honest a 
soul as ever lived, no one had been in the 
room. As soon as the stone was missed, he 
made a thorough search, — removing the bu- 
reau, and everything else in the room, imag- 
ining it might have been thrown out by the 
force employed in opening the drawer, — but 
he did not find it. Averse as he was to ac- 
cuse any one without the clearest proof, yet 
he could not rid himself of the conviction 
that the locksmith had taken it. But what 
was to be done? To bring his neighbor be- 
fore a court of justice? This, perhaps, 
would be of little avail, as he no doubt \vould 
persist in his denial, and before a search- 


HOW MR. LEUTHOLD ACTS. JJ 

warrant could be issued, he could hide the 
gem, so that it could not possibly be found. 
He had also a high regard for the lock- 
smith’s wife, whom he considered entirely 
innocent, and whose distress, already great, 
he did not wish to increase. Under all the 
circumstances, he resolved for the present to 
do nothing more than to publish his loss. 

7 * 




CHAPTER XIII. 

THE LOCKSMITH BEINGS AN ACCUSATION 
AGAINST ME. LEUTHOLD. 



R. LEUTHOLD, to keep the matter 


from being noised abroad, gave a 


dollar to old Mrs. Hirshman, who was poor, 
the better to secure the promise she had 
given of not divulging what she had seen 
and heard. She kept her promise in so far 
that she told it only to an intimate friend who 
“ would on no account repeat it to any one.” 
This friend was as faithful to her promise of 
secresy as old Mrs. Hirshman; she mentioned 
it to a bosom friend who was to be “ as mute 
about it as a fish in the deep waters ” — under 
such circumstances who would believe that 
the public would ever get to know anything 


LOCKSMITH BRINGS ACCUSATION. 79 

about it ? Scarcely, however, had three days 
passed^ before the whole town of Friedungen 
knew that a jewel, worth 1000 Louis d’ors, 
had been stolen from Mr. Leuthold, and that 
the locksmith Neidhart, the thief, forced by 
upbraidings of a guilty conscience, had con- 
fessed the crime. 

Neidhart raved like a madman, when he 
heard the report ; his wife wept bitterly, and, 
retiring to her room, upon bended knees told 
her tale of woe to her ever-sympathizing 
Saviour, imploring His aid and grace to 
sustain her ; and it seemed to her as though 
the words of the Apostle were brought 
home to her heart with consoling power : 
“ Through honor and dishonor, through evil 
and good report.” 

Neidhart, in a loud voice, cried : “ I ’ll let 
the rich fellow know. I ’ll pound him like 
iron upon the anvil till the sparks fly ! ” 

He put on his coat, to go to the nearest 


So 


THE EMERALD. 


magistrate. His wife, however, sought to per- 
suade him that an accusation for slander 
against such a man as Mr. Leuthold would 
avail him but little, especially as the utter- 
ances in his dream would be brought in evi- 
dence against him. She also reminded him 
of the mildness of Mr. Leuthold towards 
him ; of his anxiety to keep the matter as 
much as possible from the public; that he 
was so much displeased with old Mrs. Hirsh- 
man for divulging the matter as to have for- 
bidden her to come to his house; and finally, 
that he had kindly offered to lend him money 
without security or interest. 

This appeal of his wife somewhat mollified 
his feelings towards Mr. Leuthold ; but he 
began most furiously to rail against the old 
witch, as he called Mrs. Hirshman. “ I ’ll 
wring her old neck for her ; ” and he cursed 
“ the bad luck ” he had from his childhood. 

“I can’t suffer the disgrace to rest upon 


LOCKSMITH BRINGS ACCUSATION. 8l 

me, he cried. “ I ’ll have my character vindi- 
cated and cleared before the court.” 

His wife in vain urged him to let matters 
rest, and trust to Providence ultimately to 
bring his innocence to light But he was 
determined to have a judicial investigation. 

In a very short time, persons were ap- 
pointed by the court to investigate the affair : 
the arbitrators arrived at the inn, and after 
partaking of a sumptuous dinner, retired to a 
private room and commenced their labors. 
They thence repaired to Mr. Leuthold’s 
house, and made an examination of the 
bureau and drawer from which the emerald 
had been taken. Everything that was in the 
drawer on the day of the robbery had to be 
replaced. The bailiff appointed to investigate 
the matter examined all thoroughly, and 
especially noticed the empty casket in which 
the emerald had been kept. 

The arbitrators now repaired to the house 
F 


82 


THE EMERALD. 


of the locksmith, where Neidhart and old 
Mrs. Hirshman were examined on oath. 
She gave her testimony, repeating what she 
had seen and heard. Neidhart did not con- 
tradict her, nor deny what she said ; but as- 
serted that he was asleep, and dreamed, and in 
his dream said foolish things ; that the vaga- 
ries of a dream could by no means be con- 
sidered as evidence. The secretary took 
notes of all that was said ; but the bailiff in- 
quired how this remarkable dream could have 
originated. Neidhart replied it was very 
natural; as he had just before been at Mr. 
Leuthold’s and seen the valuables, his imagi- 
nation might have suggested these things in 
his dream. The bailiff added that the desire 
after such costly things might arise in the 
human breast and continue in a sleeping 
state; which, however, could be overcome, 
when in a waking state reason could exercise 
her authority. 


LOCKSMITH BRINGS ACCUSATION. 83 

The reasoning was thought so clear and 
the dream explained upon natural principles, 
that though the combination of circumstances 
was considered somewhat peculiar, yet no 
more .questions were asked. It was, how- 
ever, thought necessary, to satisfy the de- 
mands of the law, that the house of the lock- 
smith be thoroughly searched. This was 
done, and no traces of the lost jewel found. 

The arbitrators closed their labors late in 
the afternoon, and returned to the inn to sup- 
per, after which they took their departure by 
moonlight for their homes. 

About one week afterwards was received 
the decision of the court in the case between 
Neidhart and Leuthold, namely, that after a full 
investigation, — as the circumstances were of 

■f 

such a character as to justify the suspicions Mr. 
Leuthold entertained, and as he made every 
effort to keep the matter quiet, — Leuthold 
could not be found guilty of the charge of 


8 4 


THE EMERALD. 


slander ; and that on the other hand, as there 
was no positive proof that Neidhart had taken 
the emerald, he was pronounced not guilty. 
As, however, Neidhart had himself insisted 
upon a judicial investigation, and had brought 
the suit, he was adjudged to pay the costs of 
prosecution within eight days, under the 
penalty of a levy upon his property. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CONTINUED SUSPICION , AND ITS RESULTS. 



EIDHART never dreamed that the 


-L \ costs of the suit would fall upon him. 
They amounted to eighteen florins ; the pay- 
ment of which pressed him severely, as he 
had scarcely so much money at his command. 

As he returned from the Rathhaus, where 
the verdict was recorded, he was very angry. 
He wondered whether there was any justice 
to be found. Though he was proclaimed in- 
nocent by the court, yet he was condemned 
to pay the costs of the prosecution. 

His wife also felt much aggrieved, as she 
had to aid in making up the costs with some 
of her own earnings which she Ead laid by 
for a Sunday suit for her little Max. Yet it 



86 


THE EMERALD. 


did not impair her trust in God. Nor did her 
heavenly Father forsake her, for on the day 
after they had senUthe fees, a letter was found 
upon the table, with the inscription, “ Costs 
of the prosecution, for Mr. Neidhart.” The 
letter contained the exact amount ; from 
whom it came they did not know. 

The reputation of the locksmith was, how- 
ever, by no means established by the judicial 
investigation, nor by the verdict of his inno- 
cence. The people of Friedungen believed, 
as before, that he was a thief, and showed it, 
too, in many ways. What he felt most 
keenly was that many of his former cus- 
tomers left him, and employed the other 
locksmith of the town, who was not con- 
sidered so good a workman as he. This he 
doubly felt ; first, as he said that such a poor, 
miserable mechanic should be preferred to 
him ; and secondly, because his income was 
very much diminished thereby. God was in- 


SUSPICION, AND ITS RESULTS. 87 

deed permitting him to reap the evil fruits of 
his own doings; yet he would not be humbled 
thereby. 

There was, however, one favorable result 
of his trouble which had a mellowing influ- 
ence upon his heart, namely, the constant and 
unwavering affection of his wife. She sought 
to comfort and encourage him, by the kind- 
ness of her behavior towards him, and by 
every possible argument she could advance. 

“ If we only have a clear conscience,” she 
said, “ the people may say what they please ; 
we have a witness within whose testimony 
affords us peace and joy. God in His kind 
providence will sooner or later bring our in- 
nocence to light ; nor will He suffer us and 
our children, if we put our trust in Him, to 
come to want. It might indeed, be possible, 
that they rest under the suspicion for some 
time, and that they would be deprived of 
some earthly comforts, yet all things will 


88 


THE EMERALD. 


surely conduce to their spiritual welfare. Let 
our trial only lead us to true repentance, and 
a living faith in Jesus Christ our Saviour.” 

It is to be regretted that the locksmith was 
not capable of receiving and appreciating 
what his wife said, and that his countenance 
lost nothing of its morose and gloomy ap- 
pearance. It afforded him, however, some 
satisfaction that his wife’s efforts did not con- 
sist merely in words, but also in acts. She 
labored more diligently than ever, and earned 
many a small sum, besides attending to her 
household duties. She took in sewing, and 
was engaged day and night, until her eyes 
were inflamed, and her fingers so cramped 
that she could scarcely hold her needle. But 
a white lily from her garden, tied upon her 
eyes, allayed the inflammation, and a warm 
bath rendered her fingers more pliable, whilst 
the consciousness of rectitude and inward 
peace enabled her cheerfully to attend to all 


SUSPICION, AND ITS RESULTS. 89 

her duties. It relieved him of much solici- 
tude, that his wife contributed so much to the 
support of the family ; but even this comfort 
did not last long. He was irritated by every 
untoward event. 

One day, Mr. Dichlein, in one of his jest- 
ing moods, remarked in his hearing : “ I 
wonder who earns the most money now, the 
locksmith or his wife.” This so roused his 
angry passions, that he could scarcely look 
at his poor overworked wife without a re- 
bellious heart. 

8 * 




CHAPTER XV. 

THE HOSTESS OF THE “ SWAN.” 

O NE day, the hostess of the “ Swan ” 
called on Mr. Leuthold, to enjoy a 
promenade through his beautiful garden. 
All who called were received in the most 
cordial manner, and especially the hostess, 
whom, ever since he boarded with her, he 
playfully called his foster-mother. He kindly 
led her through the garden, showing her the 
winding paths bordered with box-wood, and 
the beds and circular mounds with flowers of 
variegated hue, all of which she greatly ad- 
mired and praised. At last they stood at the 
foot of a hill, to whose top the ascent was 
rather difficult The hostess, being already 

considerably fatigued, declined going up, pre- 

90 


THE HOSTESS OF THE “SWAN.” 9I 

ferring rather to look at the flowers at its 
base, and the creeping, blooming vines which 
decked the walls with a carpet of living 
green. 

The conversation almost imperceptibly 
changed from the beauty around them to 
the owner of the adjoining garden, Neidhart. 
The hostess, cautiously peeping through the 
palings, and finding the coast clear, had 
many things to say about him, not much to 
his advantage, and would have said much 
more, if Mr. Leuthold had not interposed. 
He could not bear to hear evil spoken of any 
one, even against such an ill-disposed person 
as his neighbor; and therefore mildly re- 
proved his guest, saying : 

“We will leave judgment with Him who 
searches the heart, and judges righteously.” 

“ You are right, dear sir,” returned the 
hostess. “ But to say nothing of what has 
happened, he is certainly a most detestable 


92 


THE EMERALD. 


character, and so shamelessly envious, that 
he begrudges his neighbor the very light of 
day, and the Almighty his throne.” 

“ I beseech you ! Let us rather pray for 
than judge him.” 

The hostess had no small difficulty in divert- 
ing her mind from the locksmith. But she 
knew and honored the noble Christian prin- 
ciples of Mr. Leuthold, and turned the con- 
versation upon the locksmith’s wife, of whom 
she could speak to her heart’s content, for all 
she said was in her favor. She had indeed 
much to say in praise of that excellent 
woman. 

She depicted her in glowing colors as a 
model of a thrifty housekeeper; she spoke 
enthusiastically of her diligence, activity, 
skilfulness, cleanliness, neatness, modesty, 
uprightness, kindness, mildness, her readiness 
to do favors to others. This was her char- 
acter from childhood. “She was for years 


THE HOSTESS OF THE “SWAN.” 93 

‘my dear Louisa;’ a good, quiet, modest, and 
pious soul. I can scarcely, even though she 
is in her grave, forgive old Mrs. Goodman 
for permitting her to marry such an ill- 
natured, cross-grained fellow as — ” 

“ Stop, dear foster-mother.” 

“You are right, Herr. But in other re- 
spects, old Mrs. Goodman treated her as if 
she had been her own child; and yet en- 
couraged such a marriage, which she had 
every reason to suspect would be an unhappy 
one — ” 

Mr. Leuthold, fearing the conversation 
would again turn to Neidhart, adroitly 
directed it into another direction, by asking 
if Louisa was not really the daughter of the 
deceased Mrs. Goodman. 

The hostess replied, with an air of astonish- 
ment : 

“ Do you not know ? Only have patience, 
sir, and you shall hear something which 


94 


THE EMERALD. 


forms a remarkable epoch in the history of 
Friedungen. Let me tell you, the locksmith’s 
wife was not born in our town or country. 
She was the deserted child of a straggling 
soldier.” 

“ Who would have believed it ! ” 

“Yes, sir; at that time regiment after regi- 
ment of soldiers passed through the land, 
accompanied by women and children: a 
rough, cruel, and bloodthirsty set those men 
were. One unfeeling mother had a sick 
child, which, dreadful to relate, she left in 
the woods. A few miles from town, Mrs. 
Goodman found the little one, half dead, ly- 
ing in the hazel-bushes. She took the child 
in her arms and gently carried it home. The 
poor child lay in a fever for seven long 
weeks, and in her delirium cried, ‘ Help ! 
take me away from the wicked soldiers ; they 
are going to kill me. O don’t stab me ; don’t 
shoot me ; murder ! murder ! ’ But by the 


THE HOSTESS OF THE “SWAN.” 95 

help of God she recovered; and when any 
one inquired about her parents, and where 
she had lived, she always began to tremble, 
and sometimes fell in spasms. 

“ We never could ascertain the names of her 
parents, nor could she remember, for she was 
too young. But we may ’learn from this what 
we are slow to believe, that some of the best 
persons in the world may have had wicked 
parents.” 

“ The word of God,” replied Mr. Leuthold, 
“ is the seed of regeneration. Where this is 
made effectual in the heart, the child of a 
cannibal can become a child of God.” 

“ A true and beautiful idea ! ” said the hos- 
tess. “ Well, Mrs. Goodman took care of the 
child, as if it were her own. She adopted it, 
sent it to school, took it with her to the house 
of God, and instructed her in sewing and 
housekeeping, and did everything to fit her 
for usefulness in life — for which may the 


9 6 


THE EMERALD. 


Lord reward her in eternity. She, however, 
in this life, has not been without her reward ; 
for the whole of Friedungen will testify, that 
no daughter in town honored and respected 
and caused her own mother so much joy as 
Louisa did her good foster-mother. Yes, she 
was held up as a model for others. And old 
Mrs. Goodman well merited the reward ; but 
she did not perfect and crown the good work 
she began. As she became old and infirm, 
and her end drew nigh, she encouraged the 
attentions of young Neidhart, and persuaded 
Louisa to marry him, saying : ‘ Then you will 
be provided for when I am gone.’ She doubt- 
less did all for the best; but Louisa was very 
young, and could have had the choice out of 
a dozen eligible suitors. Every one knew 
what sort of a fellow Neidhart was. Louisa 
obeyed her foster-mother in this, as she was 
accustomed to do in all things. About six 
weeks after the marriage, old Mrs. Goodman 


THE HOSTESS OF THE “SWAN.” gf 

died, and thus was spared the trial of witness- 
ing the hard lot of her adopted daughter.” 

The hostess, herself deeply moved by the 
affecting recital, paused a little while, and 
then said : 

“ Is not this wonderful ? ” 

Mr. Leuthold, who has listened with heart- 
felt interest, replied : 

“It is, indeed! And it certainly was a 
praiseworthy and Christian work in old Mrs. 
Goodman, in taking compassion upon the 
poor forsaken child.” 

“ It was,” returned the hostess. “ And I 
doubt not the good woman is now in heaven. 
But I have often thought if those in heaven 
have any knowledge of what is happening 
on earth, it must have often embittered her 
joys, to think that she was instrumental in 
bringing about the unhappy marriage of the 
child which God, in His providence, intrusted 
to her care. Don’t you think that she de- 
9 Q 


98 


THE EMERALD. 


served a better lot, and was worthy of a better 
husband? Just think of her mild counte-r 
nance, her pleasant manners, her courteous 
behavior, indicating a descent from a family 
of higher rank. And then her female accom- 
plishments and virtues, and especially the re- 
markable and almost superhuman patience 
and gentleness with which she has endured 
the harsh treatment of such a husband, whom 
she must support with the labor of her hands, 
and who rewards her only with abuse and 
harshness. I tell you, sir, she is like an 
angel, and he like a — ” 

“ My dear hostess, stop ! ” 

“You are right, my dear sir. I honor 
your better feelings. I must now return to 
my household duties. 'Your garden is a per- 
fect model of order and beauty — a perfect 
paradise. I am much obliged for the gratifi- 
cation afforded me.” 

They thus separated at the garden -gate. 


THE HOSTESS OF THE “SWAN ” 99 

As Mr. Leuthold was standing near the wall, 
he perceived Neidhart on the opposite side 
in his own garden. He had been lying on 
the grass, and had overheard most of the con- 
versation between Herr Leuthold and the 
hostess. 




CHAPTER XVI. 

THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE. 

T HE locksmith was greatly enraged at 
what he had heard, especially against 
the hostess of the “Swan.” He fully in- 
tended to bring suit, but the thought of the 
costs of the investigation, which were once 
put upon him, and which he feared might be 
again, deterred him. In truth, his mind was 
so confused that he scarcely knew what he 
was doing. His ill-feelings were at last con- 
centrated against a third person, as will ap- 
pear in the sequel. 

Neidhart returned to his shop, took up a 
key, fastened it into a vice, and began to file 
away with all his might. His thoughts, 
however, turned upon the praise he had 


IOO 


THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE. 


IOI 


heard bestowed on his wife, and he filed and 
filed until the key bent and broke. 

He was in a profuse perspiration, not 
caused so much by his labor as by the agita- 
tion of his wicked heart. He now entered 
the room where his wife was busily engaged 
in sewing, and with an angry frown on his 
countenance stood before her. As usual, she 
greeted him kindly, and gently inquired : 

“ Do you want anything?” 

He shook his head, and was silent for a 
moment ; then cried, in a rage : 

“ But you want something,” raising his fist 
and striking her a hard blow on her pale 
face. “ This is for slandering your husband, 
and for placing my character in a bad light 
before the people ! ” 

The cowardly blow was so unexpected, 
that the unfortunate woman scarcely knew 
where she was or what to say, but bursting 
into a flood of tears and collecting her 


102 


THE EMERALD. 


thoughts a moment, she exclaimed, in piteous 
tones : 

“/ slander you ? I blacken your character 
before the people ? ” 

In reply, he struck her again, saying, 
“This is to humble you, that you may not 
become too proud, you angel.” 

The poor wife was so stupefied that she 
could not utter another word ; but taking up 
her little Max in her arms, she pressed him 
to her bosom. The child, meanwhile weep- 
ing bitterly, was caressing his mother and 
stroking her cheeks with his soft little hands. 

This affecting scene, instead of softening 
the hard heart of the locksmith, enraged him 
all the more. 

“ False, deceitful woman ! ” he cried ; “ you 
are stealing the hearts of my children from 
me, that they may despise and hate me as 
other people do. I ’ll teach you something 
better ; I ’ll give you what you deserve ! ” and, 


THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE. 


103 


seizing an iron rod, he rushed at his wife. She 
sprang from her seat, and, raising her folded, 
hands, cried out : 

“ Oh, my husband ! do not thus treat your 
innocent wife ! ” 

With the hard iron, he struck those hands 
which had labored so industriously for him 
day and night, and inflicted severe wounds 
on those shoulders on which so many heavy 
burdens were already laid. Scarcely able to 
endure such treatment, and roused almost to 
desperation, she grasped the iron and tried to 
wrench it from him, crying : 

“You cruel man! I have not deserved 
such treatment from your hands ■ ” then, 
almost' fainting, she sank upon a chair and 
quietly submitted to his abuse. 

Little Max, in a fright, ran out of the 
house, and hastened to Mr. Leuthold’s, cry- 
ing Dear sir, come! come! quick! Father 
is killing mother ! don’t let him ! Quick ! 


104 


THE EMERALD. 


come, come ! ” and, grasping him by the 
hand and coat, tried to draw him along. 

Though Mr. Leuthold had made it a rule 
never to meddle with family quarrels yet the 
words and excited manner of the little fellow, 
and also the impression the remarks of the 
hostess had made upon him, so influenced his 
better feelings that he hastened with the lad. 

When he arrived at the house, the lock- 
smith had left, but his wife was sitting at the 
table by the window, with her handkerchief 
wrapped around her bleeding hand. As 
soon as she saw Mr. Leuthold, she quickly 
wiped her eyes and endeavored to greet him 
with a smile. The good man was so embar- 
rassed, that for a while he could not speak. 
Little Max, however, ran to his mother, and, 
clasping his arms around her neck, ex- 
claimed: 

“ Dearest mother, you are living yet ; thank 
God, father did not kill you.” 


THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE. 


105 


This gave Mr. Leuthold an opportunity to 
excuse himself for his appearance at this time. 
He had come at the earnest entreaty of Max, 
who was trembling, and frightened almost to 
,death, thinking that he might possibly pre- 
vent a fatal disaster; but he was glad to find 
that his services were not needed. 

“ Oh, Max,” cried his mother, “ what have 
you done ? I know it was out of love for me. 
But it was not right for you to run to our 
good neighbor. Y our father was in a passion, 
or he would not have acted so ; he will be 
very sorry for it.” Then addressing Mr. 
Leuthold, she said : “ Neighbor, you well 
know that there are occasionally some little 
bickerings in families; but they soon pass 
over, and peace is restored again. God be 
praised, it is all over now. I pray you say 
nothing to any one about it.” 

Mr. Leuthold did not see her swollen fin- 
gers, nor the bruises upon her shoulders ; but 


io6 


THE EMERALD. 


he saw upon her cheeks the livid marks made 
by the rough hands of her brutal husband. 

He was astonished to find such deep-seated 
affection, even after such treatment ; the marks 
of the cruel blows upon her face appeared to 
him like blooming flowers of grace reflected 
from a pious soul. Grasping her hand, he 
affectionately bade her farewell ; and Louisa 
retired to her chamber to lay her cares and 
troubles before her heavenly Father. 

All must admit that love and piety ex- 
hibited themselves in this case in all their 
force and beauty. But whence did she derive 
this piety, and how was such love kindled in 
her bosom ? It sprang not from nature, nor 
merely from the cultivation of her naturally 
amiable disposition, but from the grace of 
God in Christ Jesus. The love of God was 
shed abroad in her heart ; her natural inclina- 
tions were sanctified; her heart was renewed: 
she was a true child of God. And why was 


THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE. IO7 

her husband so different ? Because he coun- 
teracted all the influences of divine truth upon 
his mind, and resisted the operations of God’s 
Spirit upon his heart, and was still under the 
power of his own corrupt nature. 

She loved to go to the house of God, and 
hear of the love of Him who gave himself for 
us ; “ who gave his back to the smiters, and 
his cheeks to them that pluck off the hair.” 
In the house of God and in her closet, she 
prayed that the love of God might be shed in 
her heart, through the Holy Ghost, and that 
it might continually influence her in her con- 
duct towards all around her, towards her 
family and all her fellow-men. Her humble 
house had but one story. In the attic, there 
was a window at the back of the house, on 
. each side of which there were large clothes- 
presses ; from one to the other she stretched 
a curtain, thus forming a small chamber, 
which constituted her closet for prayer. Be- 


io8 


THE EMERALD 


hind that curtain she was often upon her 
knees, and prayed to Him who hath said: 
“ Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I 
will deliver thee.” In that humble and re- 
tired place she received many a token of di- 
vine favor ; there she was comforted in many 
a day of sorrow; there her faith in her Re- 
deemer was strengthened, and her hopes of a 
better home in heaven were kindled anew. 

Thither Louisa repaired in this her day of 
trial, asked for forgiveness if she harbored 
any ill-feelings towards her husband, and im- 
plored grace and strength to endure with pa- 
tience and resignation all her trials. 




CHAPTER XVII. 

TOOTHACHE. 

M ANY a person may have to endure 
special trials, and may not be a sinner 
above others. It is often the case that the 
pious soul has a greater measure of affliction 
meted out to him in this world than others 
have. Thank God that it is in this world 
only. This, in the providence of God, was 
the case with Louisa. 

One morning, she went out into her garden 
while the rising sun was just beginning to 
shed his golden rays over the landscape, and, 
as she was about returning to the house from 
bleaching some linen upon the lawn, she 
heard a loud cry. 

A few days before this, however, Franciska, 

109 


10 


no 


THE EMERALD. 


who often had the toothache, was in such pain 

that it was found necessary to have a tooth 

extracted. The father, not able or willing to 

pay a dentist, resolved to do it himself. So, 

with the aid of a small forceps, he easily took 

the tooth out. Franciska suffered little pain 

by the operation and none afterwards. But 

in viewing her mouth in the looking-glass, 

% 

she perceived a very large, unsightly gap be- 
tween her teeth ; whilst her brother, when he 
smiled, showed a beautiful, entire set of teeth. 

The mother, when she heard the cry, hast- 
ened to the bedchamber, where she had left 
the children both sleeping, recognizing Max’s 
voice, and found the boy still in bed, with 
both hands upon his mouth, and crying bit- 
terly. Franciska was standing near, holding 
something behind her, which she tried to 
conceal from her mother. What had hap- 
pened ? The little girl had got out of her 
bed soon after her mother had gone out, and 


TOOTHACHE. 


Ill 


tried to awaken her brother. He, however, 
had a pleasant dream of a green meadow, in 
which he was playing with some other chil- 
dren. In his sleep he began to laugh, and 
showed his beautiful set of teeth. The little 
girl quickly went and brought her father’s 
forceps, laid hold of one of Max’s teeth, and 
attempted to pull it out — Max’s pleasant 
dream soon vanished, and he cried out with 
pain. 

The mother, seeing Franciska having some- 
thing in her hand which she tried to conceal, 
took hold of her arm, and discovered the 
forceps and the cause of the alarm. Fran- 
ciska envied her brother’s fine row of teeth, 
and thought she would pull one of them ; so 
that in this respect he would not look better 
than she. 

The idea that envy, the sin of the father, 
should so early develop itself in the heart of 
her child, fell so heavily upon the heart of the 


1 12 


THE EMERALD. 


mother, causing her more pain than all the 
ill treatment of her rough husband, that she 
exclaimed : 

“ Oh, my child ! my child ! how wickedly 
you have acted.” 

Franciska attempted to offer as an excuse 
that she was only in fun ; but as her mother 
would not listen to that, she added that the 
tooth was loose before. 

Max, willing to screen his sister, cried out : 

“ Indeed, mother, the tooth was loose. I 
told sister, yesterday, that one of my teeth 
was loose ; that it would have to come out 
soon ; and then I would have a hole in my 
mouth like her.” 

But the mother, turning to Franciska, said : 

“ My child, how wicked you have been. 
You envied your brother his full set of teeth 
because you had lost one : with such an en- 
vious spirit God is sorely displeased. Let us 
pray that the Lord may take out of your 


TOOTHACHE. 


n 3 

heart this unholy disposition, and fill it with 
love and good-will to all men.” 

There, at the bedside, this pious mother 
knelt with her daughter, and prayed so fer- 
vently, that Franciska was melted to tears, # 
and Max, who was kneeling on the bed, wept 
with her. The little girl embraced her 
mother, and begged for forgiveness. 

Max, then turning to his sister, said : 

“ Dear sister, I am not angry with you ; in- 
deed, I am not.” And to his mother he said : 

“ Mother, the pain is all over now, and the 
tooth is still in its place.” 

The mother, not wishing to destroy the 
effect of her prayers by inflicting corporal 
punishment, passed the matter over without 
any further notice. 

io* H 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE WALK TO FELSENECK 

A N unusual and pleasant scene was wit- 
nessed, which attracted the attention, 
and caused no small amount of talk among 
the inhabitants of Friedungen. One day, to- 
wards the fall of the year, Mr. Neidhart and 
his wife were seen walking companionably 
towards Felseneck, an old castle not far from 
their village. Since the ill-treatment of his 
wife, whether his conscience smote him, or 
whether it was on account of public senti- 
ment, we cannot tell, but since that day he 
had treated her more kindly. 

On this particular holiday, his wife proposed 
to take a walk to the castle, not because she 
wished to gratify herself, but because she was 


14 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. 115 

anxious to divert the mind of her husband 
from his gloomy reflections, and to bring him 
again into society ; for, since the affair of the 
emerald, he avoided all intercourse with his 
fellow-men, and she began to be afraid that 
he might become a complete misanthrope. 
Hence she urged him to take this walk with 
her; and for a whole hour was engaged in 
brushing and cleaning his coat, so that his 
appearance might be respectable. 

The castle of Felseneck lay partly in ruins; 
its crumbling walls were covered with moss 
of variegated colors; wild creeping vines 
wound themselves about the rough walls, 
climbing to the pinnacles of its towers ; whilst 
around its base, thick underbrush afforded 
suitable hiding-places for rabbits and other 
small game. Towering mountains in the dis- 
tance seemed to bathe their peaks in the misty 
clouds. Between the castle and the moun- 
tain, a beautiful vale spread itself out to view, 


ii 6 


THE EMERALD. 


with its green fields and vine-clad hills, with 
here and there the spires of village churches 
glittering in the golden sunbeams. It was a 
beautiful, attractive spot, to which, on festive 
days, the whole neighborhood resorted for 
recreation. 

In the large garden surrounding the castle, 
there were stands and tables, with chairs and 
settees, under the shadows of wide-spreading 
lindens, and under arbors covered with jessa- 
mine and honeysuckle. Here were to be had 
all kinds of simple refreshments. At one of 
these, from which there was a beautiful pros- 
pect, the locksmith and his wife found room * 
for, though the locksmith himself was disliked 
by the people generally, yet, out of regard to 
his wife, no one treated them discourteously. 

The waiting-maid, at their call, set before 
them a large plate of bread and cheese. The 
wife having brought with her some little deli- 
cacies, placed them on the table, cut the 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. 11 / 

bread and cheese, and affectionately invited 
her husband to partake of the provisions. 
The locksmith ate to his heart’s content, 
whilst his wife was sitting with her knitting 
in her hand, now and then eating sparingly. 

An acquaintance, seeing that the wife 
seemed anxious for some one to enter into a 
social conversation with her husband, sat 
down beside him, and they soon were engaged 
in talking in a friendly manner. Soon an- 
other acquaintance, spying Louisa, com- 
menced a pleasant gossip with her. 

Meanwhile, guests were arriving in great 
numbers ; on the water were seen boats with 
their white sails, driving before the wind. 
The roads were filled with carriages of every 
description, coming from every direction ; and 
the place was thronged with families ; the old 
and the young, — with parties of young ac- 
quaintances, with neighbors and acquaintances, 
to spend the day in social pleasure and amuse- 


THE EMERALD. 


1 1 8 

ment. In an arbor near the centre, a band of 
musicians enlivened the company with heart- 
inspiring music. All seemed to enjoy them- 
selves. 

Somewhat later, the other locksmith of 
Friedungen, with his wife hanging on his 
arm, came with rather a conceited step. As 
the seats were nearly all taken up, and at the 
table of Neidhart there was yet a little space, 
room was made for the newcomers by moving 
a little closer together. The rival locksmith 
extended his hand, and began a desultory con- 
versation with Neidhart, and inquired about 
matters of business. This cut him to the 
quick ; but, under the genial influences of the 
place and its surroundings, he overcame, for 
the moment, the envious feelings which were 
rising in his breast. 

At this moment, the waiting-maid, excus- 
ing herself for making them wait so long, 
brought a large waiter, and placed before the 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. 1 19 

lately-arrived party not only bread and cheese, 
but also a large piece of sausage; upon which 
the rival locksmith boastingly took out of his 
pocket a well-filled purse to pay the bill. 
His wife placed the things in order, and very 
dexterously removed the skin from the sau- 
sage, cut it into delicate slices, and both began 
to eat with an appetite sharpened by their 
long walk. The wife, whose family moved in 
a higher circle than that of her husband, and 
who had been taught to conduct herself un- 
der ordinary circumstances with propriety, 
was chagrined to see her husband eat so vora- 
ciously, taking four or five pieces of sausage 
into his mouth at once, and using his fingers 
instead of his fork; and was at last con- 
strained to whisper to him that he should re- 
member he was in good society. This, how- 
ever, had so little effect upon him, that he 
at last ate up the skin of the sausage. 

Mrs. Neidhart could scarcely repress a 


120 


THE EMERALD. 


smile, whilst her husband looked with some 
degree of contempt upon his rival. 

Neidhart repressed the rising emotions of 
envy and hatred until, after the repast, his 
fellow-workman pulled out of his ‘pocket a 
watch, which he had just bought, and which 
he displayed with no small degree of pride, 
solely to annoy his neighbor. 

The watch in itself was not of much value ; 
it was in a silver case, around which was 
another case made of tortoise-shell, with 
heavy -plated clasps. The owner took the 
watch out of the case, wound it, held it to his 
ear, and then laid it upon the table to hear it 
tick. 

This was too much for poor, foolish Neid- 
hart. The musicians played a charming piece 
of music, but it grated heavily upon his ear. 
The ticking of the watch he could not endure. 
If it only did not belong to such a miserable 
fellow ! He took a piece of bread, but it 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. 121 

seemed to choke him. He could stand it no 
longer ; he arose, and walked to and fro for a 
while; then whispered something to his wife, 
who put up her work ; and they both left the 
place while the others were in the height of 
their enjoyment. 

His loving wife immediately perceived the 
change that had come over her husband, and 
knew full well the cause. In her counte- 
nance, too, there was a perceptible change ; it 
was, however, not of anger, but of sorrow. 
She was grieved to see, the envy which 
rankled in his bosom, and robbed him of his 
enjoyment. As they were silently wending 
their way homeward, she resolved to speak a 
word of advice to him, and secretly prayed 
God to give her grace to do so. 

They walked slowly down the hill on 
which the castle stood, without saying a 
word; but no sooner had they descended into 
the valley, and as she was about to speak, he 


122 


THE EMERALD. 


interrupted her by adverting, in no gentle 
terms, to the vanity of his fellow-workman. 
“ The miserable bungler ; he might be glad 
if he had enough of potatoes to eat, instead 
of coming here and feasting himself on sau- 
sages and the like.” 

“ They have, no doubt, often enough eaten 
nothing but potatoes; do not envy them, hus- 
band, because on this holiday they treated 
themselves to something better.” 

“ Did n’t you take notice how boastingly 
he paraded his watch ?” 

“ Perhaps he did not intend to do so,” an- 
swered the poor woman, “ and only wished 
to show how God had blessed him.” 

“ Blessed him! yes, out of our misfortune,” 
returned Neidhart, in a harsh tone. 

“ But God can also bring blessings to us 
out of our misfortune,” said his wife. 

He replied: “You are speaking, in your 
strange way, of things I can’t understand.” 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. I23 

He then began his old song — that the good 
things of the world were so unjustly distrib- 
uted — “ some can ride in their splendid car- 
riages, wear costly clothes, deck themselves 
in silk and gold, eat their delicacies and 
drink their wines; while such as we, have 
scarcely shoes to our feet, and clothes upon 
our backs, mid must content ourselves with 
black bread and mouldy cheese.” 

“ But,” said his wife, “ what God has per- 
mitted us to enjoy to-day, tasted very good, 
and perhaps better to us than the most costly 
viands do to those you are describing; and 
besides, if they enjoy more than we in this 
life, how long will all earthly enjoyments last ? 
so far as these things are concerned, in death 
all are alike. In the next world, the rich 
and the poor meet together. The man who 
is clothed in fine linen, and fares sumptuously 
every day, must die as well as the poor man, 
though he be as destitute as Lazarus.” 


124 


THE EMERALD. 


The locksmith was about to reply to his 
wife that he. did not want her to preach to 
him, when a strange and more effectual 
preacher came to her aid. He perceived an 
old cross, built of rough stones, standing by the 
wayside. It. was a relic of a former age, when, 
according to traditionary legends, such crosses 
were erected over the spot where lay the 
bodies of persons who had been murdered. 
As he gazed at it, — being superstitious, — 
he imagined he heard a hollow voice issuing 
from it, saying, “ Here I have been deprived 
of my life and robbed of my wealth.” He 
hastened trembling from the place, not recog- 
nizing the voice of the carpenter. 

Louisa, seeing how greatly her husband 
was moved, said : 

“ My dear husband, if I could only live to 
see the day when your heart would be at 
peace with God, and full of affection and love 
towards your fellow-men ! I took this walk 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. 12 $ 

on your account, to afford you some pleasure 
and divert your mind. You know that, by 
indulging in your morose and envious dispo- 
sition, you are robbing yourself of all enjoy- 
ment, and making yourself unhappy and 
miserable. Dear husband, listen to the ad- 
vice of your wife, and do not make us both 
miserable.” 

The tone of her voice was so mild, and 
her words breathed so much love and kind- 
ness, that a deep impression was made upon 
his heart, which had already been affected by 
the circumstance just related. This was 
evinced by his not making a reply to what 
she said, and by the sighs which escaped 
from his breast. 

She, therefore, was emboldened to con- 
tinue her gentle lecture. 

“ Only think how the holy apostle so faith- 
fully warns us, ‘ That we should not walk in 

strife and envying/ ‘ That there should be no 
1 1 * 


126 


THE EMERALD. 


strife, envyings, wrath, and backbitings,’ 
‘That we should lay aside all malice, envies, 
and evil speaking.’ And the Apostle Paul 
counts envy among the works of the flesh, 
and says, * They which do such things shall 
not inherit the kingdom of God.’ 

“ It is clear that the envious, even in this 
life, debar themselves from the kingdom of 
God, which consists in righteousness, peace, 
and joy in the Holy Ghost; much less can 
they enter heaven. True love in them is 
wanting; and when this is wanting, faith is 
also wanting ; and without faith in the Lord 
Jesus Christ no one can be saved.. In 
heaven all is love; each rejoices in the 
other’s happiness and glory ; and if we seek 
not to possess this spirit, we cannot be fitted 
to enter therein. Dear husband, here we 
have no abiding city ; our lot has not indeed 
been a very prosperous one, and we lately 
have been subjected to a very severe trial ; 


THE WALK TO FELSENECK. \2J 

i 

we have little to hope for in this world. Oh, 
how miserable must we be, if we have no 
hope of another and a better.” 

Neidhart listened to his wife patiently, 
without any evidence of anger, and without 
gainsaying anything she said. He appeared 
absorbed in thought — as though he were im- 
pressed with the truth. Thus they reached 
their dwelling, and the evening passed away 
pleasantly. 

The next morning, however, as he was in 
his shop, the scene in the garden was vividly 
recalled to his mind. The watch of his rival 
seemed to lie before him; he imagined he 
heard its tick, tick, again; nor could the 
sound of his hammer upon the anvil prevent 
him from hearing the odious sound. 

His envious feelings were aroused anew, 
and tormented him without ceasing, so that 
his health was gradually affected. The vul- 
ture which was consuming his vitals was, 


128 


THE EMERALD. 


however, not the watch, but himself, and was 
only conjured up by the watch. 

Envy is like a gnawing worm within us, 
causing us anguish and pain, and ultimately 
death. 




CHAPTER XIX. 

BLESSED IN HE A VEN. 

NE bri g ht > mild spring day, when the 
sun was shedding his genial rays upon 
the earth, and nature seemed to rejoice in a 
new life, Mrs. Neidhart was sitting on a 
moss -circled rustic seat in the shade of a 
majestic beech -tree. Her daughter, very 
pale, was seated by her side, ^reclining her 
head upon the mother’s shoulder. Little 
Max came running towards them with a 
bouquet, which he smilingly presented to his 
sister. 

Birds were joyfully sporting through the 
thick foliage of the trees, perched high up 
among the branches, and gayly singing. 

Only they who have heard the sweet notes 
I 129 


THE EMERALD. 


130 

of the nightingales echoing through the 
grove on an early spring morning, as they 
appear to vie with each other, can have any 
conception of the music. Now they seem in 
silvery tones to salute each other, and then 
in the sweet notes of the flute ; and then again 
their songs resemble the deeper, louder tones 
of the organ, trilling, and warbling, and 
quavering, making the very air tremulous 
with their song, producing feelings which 
defy utterance or description. 

The mother and children were enraptured. 
There was, however, a feeling of sadness or 
depression in the mother’s heart, which is 
sometimes called forth by these charming 
songsters, but in this instance was in her 
breast before, and may only have been re- 
called and vivified by what she heard. 

One of the most exquisite singers was 
perched upon the tree under which they sat, 
and another on a tree just opposite. They 


BLESSED IN HEAVEN. 


13 I 

appeared to sing responsively in rivalry with 
each other. Suddenly, a bird fell from the 
opposite tree. Max ran and picked it up. 
It was the nightingale which had sung so 
sweetly. It was dead. 

“ Poor bird!” exclaimed Franciska. “It 
had just sung so sweetly ! What is the reason 
it died so soon ? ” 

“ My^child, do you see this bird did not wish 
to be outdone by the other, and exerted itself 
beyond its strength, and died in its efforts to 
excel.” 

The mother, whose heart was weighed 
down with sorrow, for a while was not able 
to utter a word more. The daughter 
languidly reclined her head again upon her 
shoulder, and the little boy laid the dead 
nightingale on the grass beside him, and 
heaved a deep sigh. 

The mother had taken her sick daughter 
into the grove, hoping the pure spring air 


132 


THE EMERALD. 


might prove beneficial to her : it had, indeed, 
a soothing and reviving effect ; but the walk 
had fatigued her so much, that she had to re- 
main some time before she gathered sufficient 
strength to return home. 

But we must give the cause of this sick- 
ness. In the spring, after the garden was 

* 

sufficiently dry, the mother had given to each 
of her children a small patch of ground, and 
a little spade and rake with which to culti- 
vate it. Max was younger, but stronger than 
his sister, and, consequently, got far in ad- 
vance of her in preparing the plot assigned 
him. This troubled her. But Max .-said : 
“ Sister, I will help you when I am done with 
mine ! ” But she thought she could help her- 
self, and wanted to finish before her brother ; 
she therefore exerted herself beyond her 
strength, until she was in a profuse perspi- 
ration. Then she sat down on the bank of 
the stream to cool herself, and bathed her feet 


blessed in heaven. 


133 


in the cold water. From that time her healt-h 
failed, and she gradually became weaker and 
weaker. 

On the way home, the mother said : 

I hope, with God s help, our Franciska 
will get well again ; but then she must never 
indulge in envious feelings. O my dear chil- 
dren ! as the flowers grow side by side, un- 
folding their beautiful leaves sparkling with 
dew-drops, standing forth in praise of their 
maker, they envy not each other’s beauty; 
as the twinkling stars sparkle side by side 
in the heavens, some with a brighter and 
some a fainter glow, proclaiming their Cre- 
ator’s praise, one envies not the other; so 
should it be with us, with God’s children 
upon earth. We should rejoice in the greater 
happiness of others. If others are endowed 
with more strength, with more intelligence, 
more wealth, happiness, and honor, we should 

by no means envy them, but rather rejoice. 

12 


134 


THE EMERALD. 


We should cordially love each other. Love 
is the greatest of all Christian graces. ‘ God 
is love ; and he that dwelleth in love, dwell- 
eth in God, and God in him.’ ” 

Franciska, however, did not recover; a 
rapid consumption seized the dear child. 
One morning, she said to her mother: 

“ Last night, an angel appeared to me, and 
made me feel very sad ; for he told me I had 
a very bad heart. Dear mother, pray for me, 
that I may get a better heart.” 

The mother knelt by the bedside, and 
prayed most fervently for her daughter, and 
then retired to her attic and poured out her 
soul in earnest supplication. 

The next morning, Franciska said to her 
mother : 

“The same angel appeared to me again, 
and comforted me by saying he was better 
pleased with me, for my heart was different 
now. Oh, how glad lam!” 


BLESSED IN HEAVEN. 1 35 

She then, with a smiling countenance, 
looked upon her brother, grasped his hands 
and gently pressed them to her pale, ema- 
ciated cheeks. Max was deeply affected 
with the thought that his dear sister might 
never get well again; he sat constantly by 
her bedside, ministering to her wants, until, 
fatigued by watching, he was almost over- 
come. 

One morning, Franciska lay dead upon her 
bed — a mere shadow of her former self ; 
the skin tightly stretched o’er the wasted 
limbs, yet a heavenly smile seemed to linger 
on her pale face. 

Max scarcely moved from her lifeless form . 
he saw them shroud her in her coffin, and 
left her not until she was laid in her grave. 
He loved his sister so intensely that he could 
not endure the separation from her. He 
could neither eat nor sleep, and pined away, 
and in a short time was buried by her side. 


THE EMERALD. 


I36 

Separation from those who are so closely 
linked together by the tenderest affection 
often causes death. 

The mother’s heart was almost broken, 
as may well be imagined, at the death of her 
two children, taken away at so brief an inter- 
val. But, after some time, convinced that 
her children were in a better world, free from 
sorrow, pain, and temptation, and submitting 
to the will of her heavenly Father, she be- 
came calm and resigned, and said : “ If I pos- 
sessed valuable jewels, I would be continually 
afraid of losing them if I wore them as deco- 
rations on my person ; I would be far easier 
if they were locked up in a safe place. So I 
need not now be afraid of losing my precious 
jewels ; they are in a safe place — blessed in 
heaven.” 



CHAPTER XX. 

GOING TO CHURCH. 

HE death of the children made for a 



-JL while but little impression upon the 
father. His chief grief was occasioned by 
the expenses of the funerals ; and even this 
was mitigated by the thought that his family 
expenses would be now greatly diminished. 
After some time, however, his home began 
to appear lonely and deserted ; and when he 
saw children playing in the streets, and es- 
pecially the carpenter’s children, his thoughts 
naturally were directed to his own. He be- 
gan to consider their removal as a judgment 
of God, for his want of love and kindness to 
them, as well as for his harsh treatment of 
them. Often, when he spoke of them, espe- 


* 


12 


138 


THE EMERALD. 


daily of his little son, he would say: “ God is 
angry with me. He has punished me. He 
has taken away everything, even my children 
from me.” 

The wife, on the contrary, when she spoke 
of the children, which she often did, adverted 
to the goodness of God in removing them 
from this evil world of sorrow, temptation, and 
sin; to their blessed state in the Father’s 
home in heaven ; and to the happiness of meet- 
ing them there, and being with them forever. 
To such conversation he did not incline, for 
he could not bear to be reminded of the world 
to come. Yet his wife could not fail to per- 
ceive that, upon the whole, an impression had 
been made upon him ; he was more tender- 
hearted, mild, and kind in his deportment; 
and she indulged the pleasing hope, that by 
the grace of God, he might yet become a 
new creature in Christ Jesus. 

It was her earnest desire and effort to bring 


139 


GOING TO CHURCH. 

him once more to the house of God, which 
he had not once entered since the miserable 
affair of the emerald. And with entreaties 
and persuasions, she so far succeeded that he 
consented to accompany her. It was, how- 
ever, merely to a week-day service, at which 
only a few of the old inhabitants of Friedun- 
gen attended, that he was willing to go; 
urging as an excuse that his clothes were too 
shabby to go on a Sunday, but as soon as he 
was able to get a better suit, he would then 
go with her on the Lord’s day. 

As he appeared for the first time in the 
house of God, and heard the accustomed intro- 
ductory prelude of the organ, he felt an un- 
accountable influence stealing over him, hal- 
lowing his feelings and drawing his thoughts 
heavenward. According to a venerable old 
custom, he stood at his seat, holding his hat 
before his face, apparently, perhaps really, 
praying. He joined in singing, and with each 


140 


THE EMERALD. 


succeeding verse his interest became more 
and more intense. Each verse concluded 
with : 

“Yes, sinners Jesus doth receive.” 

The minister, in these meetings for prayer 
and exhortation, generally read a portion of 
Scripture, and explained and applied it; the 
rest of the time was spent in singing and 
prayer alternately. On this evening, he read 
(Luke xv. 1 1— 32) the parable of the prodigal 
son. The locksmith listened attentively both 
to the reading and to the remarks made upon 
the subject. The minister depicted in glow- 
ing colors how many, in these days of care- 
lessness and* indifference, tear themselves 
loose from their heavenly Father, run into all 
manner of excesses and sins, and render 
themselves as miserable in mind and wretched 
in external circumstances as the prodigal. 
He entreated those who had yet remained 
with their heavenly Father to take warning 


GOING TO CHURCH. 


141 

from the example in the text. The young 
who heard him, he exhorted to pray to God 
to draw their hearts to Him, to keep them as 
lambs in His fold, and preserve their feet from 
the paths of sin and wickedness. But he 
continued : “ It is not for us to condemn those 
who, like the prodigal, have gone astray. 
They may yet be saved, if they only will 
realize their wretchedness and misery, and 
penitently return to their heavenly Father, 
confessing their sins, and supplicate His par- 
don. God is yearning for their return, and 
would graciously meet them on the way, and, 
for the sake of our blessed Redeemer, would 
pardon and receive them into his favor. For 
there is joy in heaven over one sinner that 
repenteth.” 

So far, the locksmith coincided with what 
was said ; it suited his case, and afforded him 
encouragement. He thought the minister 
did not allude to him as one who had spent 


142 


THE EMERALD. 


his all in riotous living. Yet, at the same 
time, he felt convinced that he also was a 
prodigal, who had left his kind father’s house 
and gone far away into a strange country, and 
that he ought, by all means, to return. His 
heart was affected, his eyes moistened with 
tears, and the resolution trembled on his lips : 
“ I will arise, and go to my father.” But, like 
hundreds in similar circumstances, the reso- 
lution was not carried into effect. Ere he 
left the house of God, the impressions made 
had vanished, and feelings of a totally con- 
trary nature had taken possession of his 
heart. 

As the minister spoke of the elder brother 
whose heart beat with envy instead of re- 
joicing at his brother’s reception, he be- 
came angry and envious. As the preacher 
depicted in few but strong terms the wicked- 
ness of such conduct, and the misery it in- 
evitably entails, all the good impressions of 


GOING TO CHURCH. I43 

the locksmith vanished, and gave place to 
wrath and anger. “ That,” he thought, “ was 
intended for me. Only wait, sir pastor ; I ’ll 
pay you for thus publicly exposing me before 
the whole congregation.” With such feelings 
he left the house of God, and uttering such 
expressions to his wife by the way, he at last 
reached his home. It was to no purpose that 
his wife attempted to convince him that the 
preacher could not have addressed his re- 
marks to him personally ; that he was near- 
sighted and could not recognize him ; that as 
he had not been in church for so long, the 
minister could not reasonably expect to see 
him there. All she said was in vain ; he was 
sure the minister directed those remarks to- 
wards him ; that he wished to disgrace him 
before the whole congregation ; that when he 
.> used those words, the eyes of all were di- 
rected to him. In a rage, he swore that this 
was the last time for him to be seen at church. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

THE EMERALD FOUND. 

S farmer Gloekel, a neighbor of Mr. 



L V Leuthold, was ploughing in a stubble- 
field in August, he perceived something glit- 
tering in the earth, which the ploughshare 
had just turned up. At first, he thought it 
was only a piece of glass, and was about 
passing on ; but looking at it a second time, 
he thought there was something peculiarly 
bright about it ; so he stopped his oxen and 
picked it up. As it was somewhat soiled 
with the earth in which it had been imbedded, 
and some of the soil still stuck to it, he poured 
water out of his jug upon it, rubbed it with 
his pocket-handkerchief, and found it a beau- 
tiful, regularly polished precious stone. At 


THE EMERALD FOUND. 


145 


once it occurred to him it must be the lost 
emerald of his neighbor. He immediately 
unhitched his oxen, and drove them home in 
such haste that he and they panted for want 
of breath. 

“ Hi ! what has our Gloekly found? ” said 
an honest Jew, in his peculiar dialect, as the 
farmer was rushing in haste by the market- 
place, where the Jew and other persons were 
standing. 

The farmer showed the Jew the stone, and 
asked him whether it was Mr. Leuthold’s 
emerald. 

“ Ya, ya ! ” replied he, “ dat is it, dat is it ; 
spring dapper , (run quick ;) you ’ll get some 
batzsen (pieces of money) for a reward.” 

The whole party now went — to the large 
house ? No : to the locksmith’s first ; for 
Gloekel wished to inform him that the emer- 
ald was found ; because he felt sorry that he, 

for one, had entertained suspicions against him. 

13 K 


146 


THE EMERALD. 


He placed the emerald upon the table. It 
was indeed a beautiful stone, of a pure lively 
green with a pale yellowish tinge, rivalling in 
beauty the foliage of the forest and the grassy 
carpet of the lawn in the bright sunshine ; 
polished as by fairy hands, dazzling the eye 
with its brightness, and mirroring in perfec- 
tion every object placed before it. 

Gloekel congratulated the locksmith that 
now he would be cleared of all suspicion, and 
his character completely vindicated. All 
present joined heartily in the congratulation, 
whether they had imagined him guilty or not. 

Neidhart did not utter a word, but merely 
attempted a smile. The consciousness of 
guilt haunted him. And the protestations of 
those who intimated that they never enter- 
tained any suspicion of his guilt, he inter- 
preted within himself thus: “You hypocrites! 
you all thought and published me abroad as 
a thief.” 


































r 

























































































































- • 














. > - 














































• * 


















' • * 



















































































THE EMERALD FOUND. 


147 


His patient wife stood aloof in a corner of 
the room, when she heard the cry of the per- 
sons who had come : “ The emerald is found ! ” 
She raised her heart in gratitude to God, that 
the reputation of her husband and family was 
now vindicated and restored. She, however, 
manifested no anxiety to see the precious 
stone, and only after some persuasion did she 
go to the table. As she gazed at it, she was 
affected most strangely ; her cheeks became 
pale, and were then suffused with a deep red. 
Her eyes were riveted upon the gem ; sud- 
denly, she convulsively grasped the jewel and 
ran out of the door. 

All were amazed at her strange conduct. 
What ? can it be possible that the man is in- 
nocent, and his wife a thief? It was so un- 
expected to all present, that no one moved, 
nor uttered a word, but, with a vacant stare, 
fixed their eyes upon the door. The Jew was 
the first to speak, and laughingly cried out : 


148 


THE EMERALD. 


“ You geese ! dat Frole (little wife) I knows 
she only makes fun.” 

“But,” some remarked, “she was always 
of too sober a turn of mind. It was not in 
character for her to do such a thing.” 

Another, in rather a suppressed tone, said : 
“We have examples of persons, apparently 
the most discreet and upright, who have 
been bewitched by such valuables.” 

The rest stood as immovable as statuary. 

The farmer who found the stone, however, 
became very uneasy, and ran after her, to 
take from her that which either in sport or 
reality she had taken. But he had scarcely 
reached the door, when he met her return- 
ing. Bathed in tears, she laid the precious 
stone upon the table. They all shook their 
heads, surprised at her conduct: and no 
wonder. The sequel may explain. 

The party who had been at the lock- 
smith’s house now repaired to Mr. Leu- 


THE EMERALD FOUND. 


I49 


thold’s, who could scarcely realize that the 
jewel he prized so highly, and which had been 
lost so long, was found. He had not ex- 
pected ever to see it again, and with many 
warm expressions of gratitude took it from 
Gloekel’s hand. 

But how was it possible that the stone 
could have got into the middle of the field, 
so far from the house ? This was a problem 
none could solve. It was but natural that 
this question should present itself, and should 
cause no small degree of inquiry. After 
considerable talk, the poor raven, who, ac- 
cording to some books, has stolen so many 
things, was branded as the thief: he might 
have flown into the window, taken, and lost 
it as he was carrying it to his nest. 

Mr. Leuthold, however, assured them this 
was utterly impossible, as, during the whole 
time in which it could have been taken, he 
was in the room, and perfectly awake; so that, 

13* 


i5o 


THE EMERALD. 


if possibly a window was open, a raven could 
not have flown in without hi& seeing it. 

This satisfied all that the story of the raven 
would not do. Upon this, one, who had just 
congratulated the locksmith that his inno- 
cence was now proven, remarked it might 
have been a human raven, whose conscience 
troubled him, and who, for fear of discovery, 
threw it in the place where it was found. 

To this, Gloekel, who still had some pangs 
of conscience because he had entertained an 
unfavorable opinion of Neidhart, tartly re- 
plied : 

l< I trust you won’t again cast suspicion 
upon a man who has already suffered so 
much on this account,” adding : 

“It has just occurred to me that, as I first 
thought it was a piece of broken bottle, it 
might have been carried out with the sweep- 
ings, as such things are often thrown upon 
the compost heap.” 


THE EMERALD FOUND. 151 

This appeared probable to the most of 
them ; but the former speaker replied : 

“That this did not at all disagree with 
what he had said; for whoever stole it, 
might have spared himself the trouble of car- 
rying it into the field.” 

Then, putting his hand to his head, as if to 
aid him in thinking, Gloekel exclaimed : 

“ I just now recollect that I saw some half- 
decayed pieces of paper and sawdust turned 
up by the plough at the same time, and some 
of the sawdust was yet sticking to the stone.” 

The housekeeper snapped her fingers, and 
cried : 

“ I see how it is ! I am myself, and yet in- 
nocently, the thief! The stone must have 
been thrown out of the drawer when the 
locksmith jerked it open with such force, and 
have fallen into the spittoon, and was hid among 
the papers which Mr. Leuthold was accus- 
tomed to throw into it; and I emptied the 


152 


THE EMERALD. 


whole upon the dust-heap. Yes, I remember, 
too, when the locksmith was here, I was 
ashamed that the spittoon was so full, and 
took it out as soon as he left, and emptied it, 
and put clean sawdust in it. That ’s the way 
it got there, I am sure,” said she, again snap- 
ping her fingers. All seemed to agree with 
the solution of the difficulty. 

The happy owner of the found jewel offered 
the finder, as a reward, six new Louis dors ; 
which he, however, magnanimously refused to 
take, for which some of his friends sharply 
reproved him as soon as they left the house. 

Mr. Leuthold immediately hastened to his 
neighbor, the locksmith, and most earnestly 
and affectionately begged pardon for having 
even entertained the idea of his guilt, and en- 
treated him to accept, as a proof of his desire 
to repair, in some measure, the injury he had 
done him, and as a testimony of his regard, 
this , handing him a roll of gold pieces. 


THE EMERALD FOUND. I53 

Neidhart angrily and indignantly replied 
that the loss of character could not be repaid 
with money, that he should leave the house, 
and take his money with him. 

This grieved Mr. Leuthold very much. 
He, however, sent the value of the emerald, 
1000 Louis d’ors, to the chief burgess, as a 
fund to be invested for the benefit of the poor 
of the town. When this was made known, he 
was serenaded by the choir, and the children 
of the schools at Friedungen. And the gift 
was appropriately acknowledged by the au- 
thorities of the village in the name and pres- 
ence of all the inhabitants. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE LOCKSMITH'S DEATH. 

“ The wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” 

W E should imagine that Neidhart re- 
joiced that his innocence, so uni- 
formly doubted, was now fully established; 
but the miserable man manifested no gratifica- 
tion. The thought that his customers would 
now return again and leave his hated rival, 
instead of affording him satisfaction, had no 
influence upon him. Anger and malice had 
taken possession of his heart anew. But 
why ? on what account ? Because his neigh- 
bor had regained his lost treasure. “The 
rich fellows have all the luck,” were the first 
words which escaped his lips, after his neigh- 
bors had left with the ring. 


i54 


THE LOCKSMITH’S DEATH. 1 5 5 

In* the night, while his wife was asleep, 
Neidhart, whose conscience would not permit 
him to sleep, arose and ’stealthily passed 
through his garden into that of his neighbor 
Leuthold’s. “ Only wait, fortunate fellow,” 
muttered he; “you have found one treasure: 
I ’ll destroy others upon which your heart is 
set. Before the morning dawns, all your pet 
flowers shall be trodden in the ground.” 

The delicate flowers stood before him in all 
their beauty, and perfumed the air with their 
fragrance ; but they afforded him no delight ; 
his envious eyes saw no beauty in them, and 
their perfume was to him as the stench of 
burning hair ; with one foot he trod a beauti- 
ful violet into the earth; and, as he was about 
crushing another rare flower with the other, 
he trod with force upon a sharp pale of hard 
wood to which the plant was tied. The stake 
pierced his foot to the very bone. His groans 
were heard by no human ear; a darkness 


THE EMERALD. 


156 

black as his deed was around him ; his wicked 
design he could not accomplish. “ He fell 
by his own wickedness.” “ The biter was bit- 
ten.” He lay there in excruciating pain 
among the flowers he sought to destroy, like s 
a serpent in the clearing, which has felt the 
nailed heel of the wood-chopper’s boot. He 
bound his handkerchief around the wounded 
foot, and arose, but was unable, except with 
great pain, to use it. His great trouble now 
was how to get back again ! The lattice-work 
he could easily break ; but when he attempted 
to climb the low wall upon which it rested, 
he found it impossible, on account of the pain 
in his foot. In the greatest perplexity, he 
lay down again and moaned in agony. At 
last, he thought of his neighbor’s boat \ with 
difficulty he dragged himself to the water, un- 
fastened the chain, got into the boat, and with 
a few strokes of the oars was at his own gar- 
den. He then set the boat adrift, and hast- 


THE LOCKSMITH’S DEATH. 

ened into the house as quickly as possible. 
He thought the wound in his foot would soon 
heal of itself. He tried to keep the accident 
as secret as possible ; and, as he had no salve 
in his house, he merely wound a bandage 
around it to keep it from swelling, and went 
to bed. 

The next morning, after a painful night, he 
went into his shop to work. Even from his 
wife, he tried to conceal his misfortune. He 
accounted for his lameness by saying he had 
taken a severe cold, which settled in his foot, 
and caused him excessive pain. But as he 
kept the matter to himself and had no medi- 
cal aid, mortification ensued and threatened 
his life. 

As soon as his wife saw the danger, she 
hastened for the physician, against his will 
and consent. When the physician examined 
his foot, the mortification had progressed so 
far that he pronounced it too late for him to 


i 5 8 


THE EMERALD. 


be of any use. His wife upon this wrung 
her hands and wept bitterly. All was of no 
avail; after lingering a short time in great 
agony, he died. 

During his illness, his wife attended him 
with all the tenderness and affection that only 
a loving wife can show. As the oil in the 
cruse of the widow of Zarephath failed not, so 
the love of her heart failed not to flow out 
towards him who had so illy requited her 
affectionate solicitude. She assured him that 
she freely forgave him all his unkind treat- 
ment, and entreated him to look to the 
Saviour for mercy and pardon. To her 
entreaties, and to those of the minister who 
came to see him, he did not answer a word. 
She excused him by saying his pain was so 
great that he could not speak. In his last 
hours, however, he incessantly raised his 
hands imploringly, at times to her and at 
times towards heaven. 


« 


-THE LOCKSMITH’S DEATH. 1 59 

Whether he obtained mercy, we know not ; 
his Louisa indulged the hope according to 
that “ love which hopeth all things.” We 
are not to judge nor condemn him. But in 
view of the reigning evil passion of his heart, 
in view of his last wicked act, and in view 
of the judgment which God permitted to 
overtake him in this life, we are reminded 
of an old saying : “ The envious man is like 
an idiot who thrusts into his own breast the 
dagger he has seized to wound others.” 




CHAPTER XXIII. 

THE FUNERAL. 

HE custom in Friedungen of having a 



JL regular funeral sermon, and a short 
sketch of the life of the deceased read, was 
coming into disuse. So no one could find 
fault with Louisa for trying to have her hus- 
band buried quietly, with as little parade as 
possible. 

A small funeral procession left the house. 
His fellow -workmen by turns carried the 
coffin, after which followed the widow and a 
few acquaintances — relatives they had none. 
The widow was so overcome by the unex- 
pected and painful death of her husband, that 
though generally very pale, yet, as she was 
clothed in mourning, her countenance ap- 


160 


THE FUNERAL. 161 

peared strikingly so. As with trembling 
steps she walked behind the coffin, the sym- 
pathies of all who saw her were enlisted in 
her behalf. Many who stood by the way- 
side, and those looking out of the windows, 
remarked to each other: “It is well, poor 
woman, that he is dead ; he will torment you 
no more — now you can at least eat your 
scanty meal in peace.” 

Neidhart, notwithstanding his guilt in re- 
gard to the taking of the stone was osten- 
sibly disproved, was believed by most people 
to be guilty, and had very few friends. His 
envious disposition, the manner in which he 
treated his wife, and this last act of his which 
could not be concealed, turned the hearts of 
all against him. 

At the grave, the scholars of the school, 
according to the usual custom, sang the 
verse : 

“ Wer weis wie nahe mir mein Ende,” 

14* L 


1 62 


THE EMERALD. 


“ Who knows how near his end may be ? 

Time flies apace, and death draws nigh; 

Ah ! soon, when least expected, he, 

Grim monster, Death, will close thine eye. 

My God, I pray for Jesus’ sake, 

May I of endless life partake.” 

After this was sung, a short address was 
made, a prayer offered by the minister, and 
the usual service read. 

As they were filling up the grave, a little 
incident occurred which some who were 
superstitious construed into a bad omen. 
It was this. As the sexton threw the first 
clods of earth into the grave, the handle of 
his shovel broke ; and it took quite a while to 
procure another. Some, in the interval, put 
their heads together, and whispered : “ See ! it 
seems the earth envies him a resting-place, 
even as he envied others their rest and peace.” 

After the funeral, the carriers, according 
to an ancient custom, returned to the house 
to partake of a cup of coffee and a rusk. The 


THE FUNERAL. 163 

widow retired to her closet in the attic, to 
hold communion with and cast her care 
upon Him who promised to be the widow’s 
God. 

In looking in upon the guests, no one 
would have supposed that they had just re- 
turned from a funeral. Their conduct and, 
conversation were not such as was becoming 
so sad and solemn an occasion. They 
talked about the events of the day, the price 
of grain, of business, and laughed and jested, 
as though at a gay party or a wedding. In 
short, there was nothing, save the black color 
of their clothes, to indicate that they had fol- 
lowed a fellow-mortal to the grave. 

It was not unusual at funerals, especially 
when a rich man died, that the relatives who 
expected a legacy had a great feast — which, 
of course, cost them nothing — prepared at 
the house of the deceased, at which the con- 
versation and conduct were anything but be- 


164 


THE EMERALD. 


coming the occasion. But under the pres- 
ent circumstances, — when the life, the sad 
and sudden death of the person, ought to 
have suggested thoughts and feelings of a 
different character, — it was entirely out of 
place. Indeed, the practice of returning to 
the house, of indulging in trifling conversa- 
tion and in feasting, is unbecoming, improper, 
and sinful. The family need rest and retire- 
ment; and others, instead of counteracting 
and blunting the feelings produced and the 
impressions made by the occasion, should 
quietly retire to their homes, think of their 
latter end, and prepare by the grace of God 
to meet it. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

A QUIET i PEACEFUL LIFE . 

T HE widow might have carried on the 
business by the aid of a journeyman, 
but she had no inclination to attempt it. She 
thought, as she had no one but herself to 
support, she could easily earn a livelihood 
with her needle. And, for a day of sickness, 
she had still a little property and her own 
home left. 

An opportunity soon offered to dispose of 
her husband’s tools and the good-will of the 
shop on favorable terms, which she accepted. 
She, however, remained in her home en- 
deared to her by many tokens of God’s favor 
in her days of sorrow, and by many seasons 
of sweet communion with her Saviour. Her 

165 


1 66 


THE EMERALD. 


closet in the attic, a hallowed spot for her, 
she had enlarged and plastered, and plainly 
furnished, and consecrated it and herself 
anew to God. Here she led a quiet and 
peaceful life, “ as one that is a widow indeed 
and desolate, and trusteth in God, and con- 
tinueth in supplications day and night/’ 
Not a morning or evening passed without 
her bringing her offerings to God. Nor did 
she neglect the services of God’s house ; to 
which she could now repair, there being no 
one to hinder her. To listen to and drink in 
the word of life was her greatest delight. 

She was modest and retiring, the most of 
her time being spent at home in sewing, 
knitting, and spinning. Yet she did not 
shut herself out from the world. She gladly 
received her acquaintances who called upon 
her ; and when she carried to her patrons the 
work she had finished, she spoke kindly to 
ull whom she met, but never lingered in the 


A QUIET, PEACEFUL LIFE. 1 67 

streets. Neither in her own house nor on 
her visits did she engage in idle talk or gos- 
siping, which is the besetting sin of many. 
She rejoiced in the welfare and prosperity of 
all ; and though others were more prosperous 
than she, yet she never envied them, for she 
looked to another world for her enduring 
portion. Her trust was in the Lord. Her 
Saviour was her all in all. In fellowship 
with him, she had life, and had it more abun- 
dantly. This was the great end and object 
of her life. Her confident hope was that He 
who had in mercy graciously regarded her in 
her spiritual trouble would also provide for all 
her future temporal wants, believing the pro- 
mise, “ The Lord preserveth the strangers : 
he relieveth the fatherless and the widow.” 

With the labor of her hands, she not only 
earned enough for her own support, but 
was also able to assist those more needy than 
herself. 


THE EMERALD. 


1 68 


Though lonely, she was not unhappy. 
.After she had recuperated from the shock 
of the unexpected death of her husband, and 
had become accustomed to be alone, she could 
not but realize the fact, painful as it was, that 
she got along better now than when her hus- 
band was living. She at times thought that 
her children, if yet alive, might be a great 
comfort to her ; but she did not wish them 
back again to this world of sin and sorrow, 
and comforted herself with the hope of soon 
meeting them in heaven. 





CHAPTER XXV. 

A LIFE OF USEFULNESS . 

T HE question may arise with this lonely 
widow in her cottage home, “ Can I 
do any good in the world? ” The sequel will 
show. 

The vacancy occasioned by the death of 
her children was, to some extent, supplied by 
those of the carpenter, who, on their return 
from school, always called to see her; and not 
afraid now of being driven from the house, 
they, with the permission of their mother, at 
times spent the evening with her, and became 
very much attached to her ; so that their mo- 
ther at times would jestingly say to them : 
“ Go, children, run to your new mother ; but 
don’t forget your old one.” 

15 


69 


170 


THE EMERALD. 


The carpenter’s children were regularly 
sent to the widow, to receive instruction in 
embroidery and needle-work ; and made such 
progress, and improved so much in their be- 
havior and propriety of manners, under her 
instruction, that it was noticed by others, who 
asked the privilege of placing their children 
under her care. The deacon of the church, 
who taught the parochial school, was particu- 
larly struck with the prompt and correct an- 
swers the children of the carpenter gave to 
the questions in the catechism, as well as with 
their deportment. This he traced to the faith- 
ful instructions they received from the widow. 
He therefore, with the consent of his wife, 
asked the favor of being permitted to send 
his children also. Others followed his exam- 
ple, until the widow had twelve pupils — as 
many as her small room could accommodate. 
She was sorry to be compelled to refuse the 
application of a number of others. The 


A LIFE OF USEFULNESS. 171 

money received for her instructions more 
than repaid her for the time abstracted from 
her usual employments, and aided her mate- 
rially in her support. In addition to her pay- 
scholars, she made arrangements to take a few 
whose parents were not able to pay her; for 
she remembered that she was once a poor, 
forsaken child, and how “ the Lord had taken 
her up.” 

The happiness of the widow was the 
greater because she could now be more at 
home, and yet have intercourse with others, 
especially children, for whom she always had 
a great affection. The reflection that she was 
doing some good in the world also afforded 
her no small degree of satisfaction. 

Thus every person however poor, though a 
cripple upon his bed, can be useful to his fel- 
low-creatures ; even if he only prays for 
them; for the prayer of the righteous availeth 
much. It is generally the case that we feel 


1 72 


THE EMERALD. 


more contented and happy, if we know we are 
doing good to others. 

It was a scene which afforded Leuthold’s 
housekeeper much gratification, to see Louisa, 
like a kind mother, sitting in the midst of her 
scholars, who, under her direction, were busily 
engaged at their work: all appeared to be 
happy. It was rather a pleasant employment 
than a tedious task. Whilst at their work, 
Louisa sometimes related an interesting story, 
embodying some important truth, some Chris- 
tian sentiment and practical duty of life. Thus 
she faithfully sought in the simplest manner 
to implant into their hearts a love and re- 
gard for all that is virtuous, noble and good, 
and especially to lead them to an acquaintance 
with and a love for their blessed Saviour. 

Their improprieties and faults, (for they were 
children and had their faults,) which resulted 
from improper and neglected training at home, 
or from their intercourse with rude and un- 


A LIFE OF USEFULNESS. 


173 


cultivated children, she reproved in so kind 
and gentle a manner, that her rebukes made 
a lasting impression upon them ; and she was 
seldom compelled to reprove them the second 
time for the same offence. She never suf- 
fered herself to get out of patience and speak 
to them in anger, nor assume haughty airs ; 
but appeared like one of them. There was 
also atone of voice, a gentleness and mildness, 
so peculiarly touching that it rendered her 
advice the more impressive, and added weight 
and influence to all her instructions. 

Indeed, it could not be otherwise ; a devoted 
and pious person like her, though not a word 
be said, could not but exert a healthful in- 
fluence upon those who were continually as- 
sociated with her ; they seemed to breathe in 
the spirit with which she had impregnated the 
very atmosphere they breathed. 

In short, the locksmith’s widow was doubly 
blessed in her work. She proved a blessing 

15* 


174 the emerald. 

to her pupils, and she herself was blessed not 
only in the joy and satisfaction of her own 
heart, but also in her own advancement in 
the divine life. It ever remains true, that no 
one, from a pure motive and love to God and 
his fellow-men, can be engaged in doing good 
without advancing in the divine life ; for it is 
said: “He that watereth, shall himself be 
watered.” 




CHAPTER XXVI. 

NEW LIFE. 

W E have yet, to complete our narrative, 
to add one chapter, and though it be 
a long one, we hope it will not be devoid of 
interest to the reader. The title New Life 
has not reference to the new life which the 
apostle speaks of. This was in the widow’s 
heart before. We thereby only allude to new 
and happier relations in the circumstances of 
this poor woman in this world. 

Two years after Neidhart’s death, there was 
a wedding in Friedungen, which created no 
small sensation, and proved how wonderfully 
God leads His people ; how He brings light 
out of darkness, and joy out of sorrow. 
Some few were not well pleased, and passed 

i75 


176 


THE EMERALD. 


some unkind remarks. The majority, how- 
ever, rejoiced in the event, and none, perhaps, 
more so, than Mr. Leuthold’s housekeeper. 

Mr. Leuthold had for a long time, with in- 
terest, observed the mild and Christian spirit 
of the widow. What impressed him still 
more favorably was her effort to be as useful 
as possible in her sphere of life, and her self- 
sacrificing spirit in endeavoring to train up 
for usefulness in this world, and for happiness 
in the world to come, the pupils committed to 
her charge. He noticed her from his own 
garden as, accompanied by her school, she 
walked about, or sat with them under the 
shady trees in her own garden; her genial 
disposition, affable manners, her kindness to- 
wards her pupils, all struck him with peculiar 
force. 

When she brought his nicely made or 
beautifully ironed shirts and neckties, and he 
happened to meet and enter into conversation 


NEW LIFE. 

with her, he was astonished to find a culti- 
vated mind and a propriety of decorum not 
usually met with in persons in her rank of 
life. There was something peculiar he could 
not explain, and in her countenance some 
thing so winning and captivating he could 
not withstand. He therefore resolved to 
sue for her hand and heart. The image of 
his former wife appeared to be reflected in 
Louisa, and she only could supply her place. 
He was anxious, too, to take part in her 
labors of love, and enlarge the sphere of her 
usefulness. 

The widow received the entirely unexpected 
proposal of marriage with a trembling heart ; 
but as Mr. Leuthold assured her that, as his 
wife, she would by no means be required to 
dismiss her pupils, but that he would cheer- 
fully co-operate with her, and unitedly they 
would be able to do more good for the youth 

of Friedungen in the future than she had in 
M 


A 


1/8 


THE EMERALD. 


the past, she did not reject his suit, but only 
asked some time for reflection. After she 
brought the matter — as she did everything 
of importance — before the Lord in prayer, 
she cheerfully gave her consent. 

In the village church they were married by 
the venerable pastor. The ceremony was 
witnessed by the inhabitants of Friedungen 
generally. From the church they went di- 
rectly to the house of Mr. Leuthold; but 
they had no wedding festivities. The remem- 
brance of the melancholy death of the wife, 
on his part, and of the sudden and painful 
death of the husband, on hers — neither being 
obliterated by the lapse of time — decided them 
against having any public demonstration. 

Some time afterwards, as they were sitting 
in the arbor in their garden, Mr. Leuthold 
took out of his pocket a beautiful velvet-lined 
casket, opened it, and drew out a gold chain, 
to which the much-valued emerald was at- 


i 


NEW LIFE. 


179 


tached. He presented it to his bride, re- 
marking, “This trinket has caused you much 
sorrow, may it now be a sign of your present 
happiness.” 

The bride was very excited; a nervous 
tremor laid hold of her whole frame ; and yet 
the kindling of her eye proved that it was 
caused by emotions of joy rather than of 
grief. She took the chain, examined the 
stone very minutely, and raised her eyes 
hopefully towards heaven, as though she saw 
the hand of Providence in the whole affair. 
Then again, as though lost in thought, she 
looked at the stone again, and, as if awaken- 
ing from a dream, exclaimed : “ This emerald 
is mine.” 

“Yes, dear Louisa, it is yours.” 

She smiled, and replied : “ It was mine be- 
fore it was yours.” 

“ How so, Louisa ? ” he exclaimed. 

“ It is so,” she said. 


180 THE EMERALD. 

Leuthold gazed upon his bride in great 
surprise. 

“ I will show you,” she replied, “ a fac- 
simile of it.” She then drew from her bosom 
the chain which Franciska had taken from 
her drawer, — for which, as related in chapter 
seven, she had punished her, — and held it and 
the piece of green glass attached to it bhfore 
the eyes of Mr. Leuthold, who eagerly took 
hold of it and compared the two. They were 
exactly alike in appearance ; the only differ- 
ence was the one was made of glass and the 
other was a real emerald. With no small de- 
gree of embarrassment, he inquired from 
whom she had obtained it ? 

“ From my father.” 

Leuthold gazed steadily at Louisa, as 
though he expected to read in her counte- 
nance some solution of the mystery. After 
a pause, he said something in a very low 
tone of voice, as if it were to himself, the last 


new life. 


i 8 i 


words only being audible : “ Is it possible ! is 
it possible ! It is his likeness.” 

Grasping his hand and pressing it gently, 
Louisa said to him : “ You have never spoken 
to me of my parentage ; no doubt out of re- 
gard to my feelings. But now, as you have 
taken not only the poor widow of the lock- 
smith, and also the supposed deserted child 
of a strolling soldier, to be a partaker of your 
love and your wealth, I will tell you all I 
know. I am not, as believed by all, the child 
of a soldier ; although I do not know with 
certainty who my parents were. I know but 
little of the time when I lived under my fa- 
ther’s roof, for I was not seven years old 
when I was forcibly taken away from it. 
There are, however, some vivid reminiscences 
— some peculiarly delightful and pleasant, and 
one dreadful and bloody — which linger in my 
memory. Where my father’s house was or is, 

I know not ; but probably at a great distance 
16 


1 82 


THE EMERALD. 


from here. It was built on a commanding 
eminence; around it were a number of cot- 
tages. I can remember of no other name 
than ‘ the mansion on the hill.’ The house 
was large and magnificent, the rooms had 
very high ceilings, and on the walls hung 
large pictures in gilt frames. At a window 
hung a green cage with yellow birds, which 
I used to feed with sugar — they eating it from 
my fingers through the wires. I remember, 
too, 'we had a large garden filled with flowers, 
to which my father carefully attended ; and I 
used to sprinkle them from a little watering-can. 
My father was a very kind and generous man, 
and was called Herr Goenner by the people.” 

As Louisa was relating her early impres- 
sions of her father and the home of her child- 
hood, the countenance of Mr. Leuthold 
beamed with a glow of delight, evidently 
produced by a cherished hope enkindled with- 
in his bosom ; but not wishing to interrupt his 


NEW LIFE. 


183 


wife in her narration, he restrained the pent- 
up feelings of his heart ; and she continued : 

“ I was always with my father ; and I re- 
member well how attached he was to me, 
calling me his only joy upon earth ! He 
often took me upon his knees, taught me the 
letters of the alphabet, and to spell and pro- 
nounce the words. He often guided my 
hand to make pictures on the slate. He 
showed me beautiful pictures in books, and 
told me interesting stories, which I listened 
to with great pleasure. 

“ On one occasion, he showed me a beauti- 
ful casket, in which were many valuable 
jewel's, and, amongst others, (pointing to 
the emerald,) this beautiful stone. I am cer- 
tain it is the same. I begged him to give it 
to me to play with ; but though he scarcely 
ever refused me anything, yet he would not 
give it to me. I began to weep bitterly. 
Then — I remember it well — he said, ‘Don’t 


1 84 


THE EMERALD. 


cry, my dear child; you shall have a chain 
and stone exactly like this, and you may 
wear it around your neck.’ Soon after, he 
brought me this, and said, ‘ Here, take this ; it 
is like the other one. The one in the casket 
is yours also ; I will keep it for you. On the 
day of your marriage, you shall wear it as a 
bridal gift.’ Now, my dear husband, the 
saying of my father is verified this day.” 

Louisa was so deeply affected by these 
reminiscences of her childhood, that, for 
tears and sighs, she could not, for a few mo- 
ments, utter another word. 

“Wonderful are Thy ways, oh, my God!” 
exclaimed Mr. Leuthold. 

Louisa, now having composed herself, 
continued : 

“The last I remember of my childhood- 
home is impressed most vividly upon my 
mind, because it was so dreadful ! When I 
was about seven years old, a fearful war 


NEW LIFE. 


185 

broke out, and my father was very much 
alarmed and distressed. Day after day 
bands of rough soldiers came upon us ; they 
ruined our garden and plundered the house. 
One day, some, yelling and shouting, rushed 
into the room where we were sitting. I saw 
one raise his sword and give my father a 
blow on his dear head. The blood streamed 
from the wound, and he fell senseless on the 
floor. I screamed dreadfully; but a rough, 
sunburnt, dirty woman, who had come in 
with the soldiers, caught hold of me and 
dragged me out of the room. 

“The first I remember after this was, I 
was sitting beside the old woman in a 
wagon, following a regiment of soldiers. 
She was a sutler, selling provisions and 
liquor to the soldiers, and must have con- 
ceived a fancy for me, or she would not have 
taken me along with her, as I was more of 

an encumbrance than a help to her. 

16* 


THE EMERALD. 


I 86 

“ I cannot describe what I had to endure 
for many months. We travelled from place 
to place, as I then thought almost over 
the whole world, and -slept in the roughest 
storms and during drenching rain, under the 
canvass roof of the wagon, wherever the sol- 
diers encamped. The old woman brought 
jugs and glasses, etc., out of a chest from the 
wagon, and sold liquor and bread and cheese 
and sausages to the soldiers. I was to assist 
her, but was so awkward, that she not only 
swore at me and called me all manner of 
names, but beat me dreadfully. She often 
caught hold of my hair and tore whole 
bunches out. Sometimes the soldiers pitied 
me, took my part, and remonstrated with the 
‘ cruel devil,’ as they called her, for treating 
me so roughly ; others mocked and laughed 
at me, took me upon their horses and made 
them leap, lifted their swords over my head 
and pointed their guns at me, to frighten me. 


NEW LIFE. 


18/ 

“ I cannot tell how much I had to suffer. 
Oh, how often did I pray to God — for my 
father had often told me that God would help 
us if we called upon Him — that He would 
bring me s to good people who would treat 
me better. I promised, if God would help 
me, I would try to be a good child. 

“ I endeavored to do as much as lay in my 
power to please the old woman, but to no 
purpose. She treated me worse and worse 
each day. In one thing, however, I would 
not obey her, and this irritated her beyond 
measure. When I carried the glass to the 
soldiers, she wanted me first to put the glass 
to my mouth, taste the liquor, and say: 
‘Your health, soldier.’ This I could not 
do ; the liquor burned my lips, and the smell 
of it made me sick. For my refusal, she 
punished me severely, and cried out^ ‘ I can 
do nothing with the stubborn brat ; I ’ll have 
to leave her in the forest ! ’ And as I after a 


1 88 


THE EMERALD. 


little time became sick, and was a burden to 
her, she one day, as we were passing through 
the woods, carried her threat into execution, 
and took me out of the wagon and threw 
me under some bushes. There 3, kind old 
woman of this town, Mrs. Goodman, (of 
blessed memory,) found me; may the Lord 
reward her abundantly for what she has done 
for me. 

“ I knew nothing of her taking me up and 
carrying me home; weakness and fear of 
wild beasts in the dark woods had deprived 
me of reason. For weeks I lay in an un- 
conscious state ; until one morning, as I 
awoke, I found myself in a bed with the 
kind woman bending over me, wiping my 
face. She attended me carefully until my 
health was restored. Many kind friends 
visited gie during my sickness, took a deep 
interest in me, and brought me food to tempt 
my appetite. My heavenly Father heard my 


NEW . LIFE. 189 

prayer, and brought me among kind people. 
I felt grateful, and tried to fulfil the promise 
made to be a good and obedient child ; but I 
must confess I did so at first only because I 
was afraid of being taken away from them. 
To my father’s home I could never go, as he 
certainly was dead. Of this the cruel old 
woman assured me. 

“ The fear of being taken away from Mrs. 
Goodman, and being thrown again among 
rough soldiers, haunted me continually. Mrs. 
Goodman, who had no children, gladly kept 
me ; and no one ever thought of restoring me 
to my parents, as all believed me to be the 
forsaken child of a brutal soldier. For some 
time, I did not say a word to any one of my 
past history. The remembrance of the scenes 
passed through distressed me so much that 
I did not like to recall them ; and when any 
one asked me about my early life, I began to 
weep and tremble. 


THE EMERALD. 


190 

“ At length, as my health and strength of 
body and mind were restored, I told old Mrs. 
Goodman all I could remember. She was 
surprised, and for a while appeared engaged 
in deep study, and then said : 

“ 1 Child, we cannot find out where your 
home was ; and as your father is dead, if we 
knew, and would take you home, you would 
be among strangers ; and we don’t know how 
they would treat you. I will be your mother ; 
you shall stay with me. Do you wish to 
stay with me ? ’ 

“ I threw my arms around her neck and 
wept: she pressed me to her bosom, and 
said: 

“ * God has given you to me : I will never 
suffer you to leave me ; and you shall be my 
dutiful daughter, and when my end comes, 
you shall close my eyes in death.’ 

“ She strictly enjoined it upon me to tell 
no one what I had told her of my history. 


NEW LIFE. 


I 9 I 

She did not undeceive the people in their 
opinion of my parentage, but gave me her 
own name, adopted me as her child, and 
trained me up with such love and affection 
and faithfulness as not many mothers do 
their own children.” 

Mr. Leuthold listened to her recital with 
the most intense interest. When Louisa had 
finished, he clasped his hands, and raised his 
eyes towards heaven, and ejaculated : “ O Lord, 
how marvellous are Thy ways ! how great is 
Thy goodness !” 

“ Now, my dear husband,” resumed his 
wife, “ let me ask you a question, which has 
caused me a great deal of anxiety ever since 
neighbor Gloekel brought the found emerald 
over to my humble dwelling, and which I 
often wished to ask, but my timidity restrained 
me : How did you get possession of this pre- 
cious stone and chain ? ” 

’ “ My family,” replied Mr. Leuthold, “ in- 


192 


THE EMERALD. 


herited it from some one who lived with us 
several years, and this person was your father.” 

“ What ? ” cried Louisa, much excited ; 
“ you knew my father? He lived with you ? 
What joy and transport! Now a long cher- 
ished desire to know more of my dear father 
will be gratified.” 

“ I can tell you,” returned Mr. Leuthold,, 
“ much of him ; and I shall often speak with 
you about him. It shall afford me the great- 
est pleasure to do so. I will, for the present, 
give you only a brief sketch of his history, to 
complete and confirm your own statement. 

“ Your father was a merchant in the city of 

A . After the death of your mother, he 

retired from all business pursuits, purchased 
an estate in the interior of the country, and 
devoted himself entirely to your education. 
Some time after, the war of which you spoke 
broke out, and the sad event of the supposed 
death of your father took place. Though se- 


NEW LIFE. 


193 


verely wounded, he was not dead. In an in- 
sensible state, he was carried to the adjoining 
village, where, under the treatment of experi- 
enced physicians, he slowly recovered. 

“ His house was not only plundered of all 
its contents, but was totally destroyed by fire. 
Through the war, and the failure of others 
who owed your father large sums of money, 
and for some of whom he went security, he 
lost nearly the whole of his large estate. Yet 
this was not the cause of his greatest grief. 

“ My father, who was a merchant in B , 

was an old, tried friend of your father. The 
Goenner and Leuthold families for several 
generations had lived upon terms of the 
closest intimacy. When my father heard of 
your misfortune, he hastened to your father 
as soon as the dangers of the war permitted, 
and entreated him to spend the rest of his 
days in our family. I remember it was a fes- 
tive and joyful day when he came to our 
17 N 


i 9 4 


THE EMERALD. 


house. He lived a quiet, peaceful, and godly 
life with us about five years. His example 
and instructions proved a blessing to our 
whole household. To me specially he gave 
much wholesome advice, for which I owe him 
many thanks. We all esteemed him highly 
as a friend, a father, and a brother, and he felt 
himself happy in our midst. He often com- 
plained of pain in the head, occasioned by 
the wound inflicted by the soldier. But his 
greatest grief was that you were so rudely 
torn away from him. Every possible effort 
was made to find you ; persons were sent in 
every direction ; advertisements, minutely de- 
scribing your person, age, and appearance, were 
inserted in the newspapers; but all to no pur- 
pose. A special and trusty friend of your fa- 
ther was despatched with orders to make use 
of every effort to obtain information concern- 
ing you. This man at one time thought he 
was on your track, and followed it through 


NEW LIFE. 


195 


various parts of Germany, and returned, at 
last, with a certificate of the death of a child, 
which, according to the description given, was 
believed to be you. 

“ Under the conviction, which we all enter- 
tained, that you were dead, your father be- 
came more composed, indulging the hope 
that he would soon meet you in a better 
world. His health now failed ; and as he be- 
came feebler in body, his hopes of the life ever- 
lasting became brighter. He relied more and 
more firmly upon the blessed Redeemer, and 
died in the firm assurance of eternal life.*’ 

Leuthold was silent a moment, to give 
Louisa time to wipe away the tears which 
were flowing down her cheeks. He then 
continued : 

“Your father felt assured that we would, 
without hope of reward, minister to his wants 
till his death. But he sometimes playfully re- 
marked : ‘ Dear friends, your reward shall be 


196 


THE EMERALD. 


this button, which you must cut off before 
you give the coat to a poor man,’ (pointing to 
a button on his coat) This coat he some- 
times wore when he went out, as he remarked, 
as a token of respect, because it was the coat 
he had on when he received the wound ; but 
always, as soon as he returned, he locked it 
up in his bureau ; so that it never came into 
the hands of the servants. 

“ After his death, we found a paper in his 
desk, on which was written, ‘ Don’t forget to 
cut off the button; what is contained in it 
shall remain an heirloom in your family, as it 
has been in mine. And whenever you look 
at it, remember kindly a grateful friend who, 
through the rich, free grace of Jesus Christ, 
peacefully rests in heaven.’ 

“ When the button was cut off, we found in 
it, to our greatest surprise, this costly stone, 
which your father, no doubt, in war-time, thus 
concealed, so that, when bereft of his other 


NEW LIFE. 


I 9 7 


possessions by the thieving soldiers, he might 
retain this most valuable jewel. 

“ This, dearest Louisa, was the way in 
which my father came into possession of the 
emerald. We valued it very highly, not so 
much on account of its intrinsic value, but as 
a memento of the dearly cherished friend 
who left it to us, and, may I say it, as a 
memorial of God’s wonderful providence. 
On many a festive occasion, this stone lay in 
its open casket on the table before us, and we 
examined and praised it as a wonderful pro- 
duct of God’s workmanship, whilst its beauti- 
ful green color, rivalling nature’s spring-tide 
beauty, always brought to remembrance the 
dear friend who now revels in the delights of 
an eternal spring-tide of glory. From my 
father, who died a few years after the death 
of your father, I received this precious legacy. 
I praise the Lord with a holy joy that it has 

now come into the possession of its rightful 
17* 


198 


THE EMERALD. 


owner and lawful heir. Yea, I praise the 
Lord that I can call its owner mine; and 
above all, I magnify the name of the Lord 
that I can look up to heaven where, in the 
abodes of bliss, our friend dwells, and truly 
call him father.” 

The emotions which Louisa felt as her hus- 
band spoke, may be more easily imagined 
than expressed. 

Both wept tears of joy as they embraced 
each other, and were filled with adoration and 
praise as they contemplated the mysterious 
and beatifying providence of a wonder-work- 
ing God. 

We have but little more to add to our story. 
This patient, God-fearing woman was not 
only rewarded in this life, but we might almost 
say crowned with joy and glory. She en- 
joyed in her new married life as much happi- 
ness as it was possible to possess in this im- 


NEW LIFE. 


199 


perfect state of being — actively engaged in 
doing good, making all around her happy, 
being blessed, and a blessing to others. She 
was also blessed with another Max and Fran- 
ciska, and Max again inherited his mother’s, 
and Franciska the father’s spirit. Be assured, 
they were taught by their good mother to 
rejoice in the prosperity of others, and that 
a sound heart is the life of the flesh, but 


u 



is ilie rottenness of the hones.” 




1855 . 


1870 . 


LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

No. 42 NORTH NINTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 

J. K. Shryock, Superintendent. 


take pleasure in announcing to the 
Church and to the Trade in general, that 
we have commenced the publication of 
the 


jfathfi'Iand Jicras, 


as follows: 


‘THE COTTAGE bythe LAKE.” 

Translated from the German of Martin Claudius, by 
Miss R. H. Sciiively. “ When the need is sorest God’s 
help is nearest.” 

16mo, Cloth, a Beautiful Frontispiece, 160 pages, $0.75. 

“ This'volume will supply a want in our Sunday-school 
Libraries, t:> which the Religious Press has called attention 
— books of a more devotional and evangelical character. 
The Wilmer Family is characteiized by all that makes the 


2 


* Schoenberg Cotta Family ’ so univei sally attractive. * * * 
We can confidently recommend this book, translated with 
all elegance of diction, and with all the w irmth and pathos 
of the German heart. * * * All classes will be instructed 
and elevated by this kind of literature. It has channs for 
the youthful and the mature, and will profit every one ” — 
* Mrs E. B. S. 


“IN THE MIDST OFTHE NORTH SEA.” 

From the German of Marie Roskowska, by 
J. F. Smith, Esq. 

16mo, Cloth, Two Engravings, $0.75. 

A story of life upon one of the lonely little islands (or 
Halligen) lying in the North Sea off the German coast. 
The loneliness and the dangers accompanying a residence 
upon these barren, marshy spots, are dramatically described, 
and the characteristics of the two families are painted most 
naturally. The incidents of “ Lost in the Fog,” “ The 
Shipwreck,” and “ The Inundation,” are full of interest; 
and the earnest piety that pervades the narrative will recom- 
mend it to any Christian family or Sabbath School. The 
tale is full of excitement, and yet is anything but sensational. 


* 

“ANTON, THE FISHERMAN.” 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by Mrs. M. A. 

Manderson. 

16mo, Cloth. Three Fine Original Engravings, $0.85. 

“A very interesting story of humble life, illustrating do- 
mestic happiness, and the prevalence of industry, manliness, 
and integrity — together with the providential deliverances 
that sometimes occur in the midst of the trials that beset 
the believing poor.” — The Lutheran and Afissicnary, 
Philadelphia. 


3 


/ 


“Anton, the Fisherman.’ —“We call the specia 1 at 
lention of the public to this beautiful book, just issued 
by the Lutheran Board of Publication. It is from the 
famous Hoffmann of Dresden, who has won a world- wide 
fame as the writer of popular stories for the young. The 
translation is so natural and graceful, that no one would 
suspect its German origin. The book is in the best style 
of book-making, and has elicited universal admiration. 
Let the Church encourage our publications, with a prompt, 
cheerful, and generous patronage .” — Lutheran Observer. 


“Rene, the Little Savoyard.” 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by J. F. Smith, Esq. 
16mo, Cloth, Two Excellent Original Engravings, $0.35. 

“ I have just read with great pleasure, ‘ Rene,’ in your 
very attractive Fatherland Series. It is a brilliant little 
story, and is well translated. The children (and their 
parents) will be delighted with these pure and beautiful 
books, which I hope may have the wide circulation they 
deserve.” Yours, C. P. Krauth. 


“FRITZ; OR, FILIAL LOVE/’ 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by M. A. Manderson 
16mo, Cloth, One First Class Original Engraving, $0.65. 

“A charming story, founded upon the life of one of 
Frederick the Great’s generals. The healthy pious tone 
that pervades the book, as well as the literary merit, should 
recommend it to every family and Sunday-school Library. 
We venture to say that no boy will read this pleasant nar- 
rative without wishing to know ir. re of Prussia’s great 
king. 


4 


“GEYER WaLTY; 

OR, FIDELITY REWARDED.” 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by M. A. Mandf.rson. 

16 mo, Cloth, Seven Superior Original Engravings, 

drawn by D. R. Knight, Esq., and engraved by Van Ingen Snyder, in 
their very best manner, and printed on the best quality of plate paper. 

We have no fear, in offering this beautiful book to our 
patrons, that they will not be pleased with it, either in a 
literary or artistic point of view. Geyer Walty is a sturdy, 
healthy story, worth reading by young or by old, and will 
bear comparison with the best tales of its class. No pains 
have been spared upon this volume, the translation and en- 
gravings being all original , and of the most expensive 
character. 

The present book is the last of the first set of the Fj* 
THERLAND Series. The 6 volumes will be put up in an 
extra neat case , and will be sold at $5.00, including the box. 

Other Volumes are in preparation, and will be pub- 
lished as rapidly as possible. We trust that in future The 
Lutheran Church will feel that the interests of our 
Sunday Schools will not be neglected. 

We call upon the entire Church to aid us in our efforts. 

The Board of Publication have entered upon this under- 
taking by no means unadvisedly. Co-operating with numer- 
ous German scholars well read in this class of literature, 
we have selected a series of works to be published as 
rapidly as circumstances will permit — works that will 
surely commend themselves to all interested in the Sunday 
School and the family. 

The genuine religious sentiment, the touching pathos, the 
heartsomeness, as well as the dramatic interest of these 
stories of Hoffmann, of Horn, and of kindred writers, are 
well known to the German reader; and we trust by oui 


5 


translations to make German thought btrter known to the 
youthful English reader, whom we hope to familiarize with 
scenes and incidents of the Fatherland. 

We ask the kind consideration and countenance of the 
Book Trade generally, but particularly of those engaged 
in the publishing and sale of Sunday-school books. 

We add a few of the many flattering notices we have 
received' from our friends. 

The Fatherland Series. From the German. Phila- 
delphia: Lutheran Board of Publication. — “Under this 
title the Lutheran Board of Publication have begun what 
promises to be an interesting and useful series of Sunday- 
school books. They comprise translations from some of 
the best German writers for the young, carefully selected 
from an evangelical stand-point, with a view to make Ger- 
man thought better known to English youthful readers, and 
to familiarize them with the scenes and incidents of German 
life. The two volumes just issued are entitled, ‘In the 
Midst of the North Sea,’ and ‘Anton, the Fisherman.’ 
Both are interesting, capital books, having a good deal of 
dramatic power, and pervaded by a beautiful Christian 
fa th and simplicity. The first named shows the sad evils 
of an envious, jealous spirit; and the last is a testimony 
to the sure word of Scripture, ‘ Trust in the Lord and do 
good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt 
be fed .”’ — The Sunday-school Times. 

Lawrence, Kansas , March I, 1870. 

“Your books lately published, ‘In the Midst of the 
North Sea,’ and ‘Anton, the Fisherman,’ are first rate, and 
with such books your reputation will soon be established. 
I am well pleased with your commendable efforts and 
r uccess in gel ting out good book' . 

“ Yours, 


II. B. Belmer.” 


6 


New Middletown, March 2, 1870. 

“I received ‘In the Midst of the North Sea,’ sent by 
jou a couple of weeks since. Thank you for your kindness 
in sending it. Have read it carefully. Am highly pleased 
with it. Think it a perfect gem for the Sabbath School. 
Besides many other valuable lessons, it clearly exhibits the 
hand of Providence in the preservation of the Islanders. 

“ Yours, J. B. Miller.” 

Bainbridge, Pa., March 7, 1870. 

“ I have read ‘ Anton,’ and am even better pleased with 
it than I was with ‘ In the Midst of the North Sea.’ Good, 
better. I am, truly and fraternally, 

“Yours, F. T. Hoover.” 

New Germantown, March 15, 1870. 

“The publications you send me are admirable every way 
and I only wish I could sell many of them for you. 

“ Yours, J. C. Duy.” 

Sharpsville, Tipton Co., Ind., March 20, 1870 

“ I hereby acknowledge the receipt of two volumes of 
your Sunday-school Publications, ‘ North Sea,’ and ‘Anton.’ 
i have hastily perused these little narratives, and find them 
very interesting and spicy, and can heartily recommend 
them to the Sabbath School and the public generally, as 
safe companions for both young and old. 

“A. H. Scherer.” 

Harrisburg, March 29, 1870. 

“‘How do I like the series?’ Well, really, I hardly 
know how to express myself; but I have a little four-year- 
old chip of the old block, who, when anything pleases 
him very mu h, says, * Do it again.’ Now, that is just what 


7 

I say to the publisher and the translator : Do h again, and 
you do the Church good. 

« Fraternally yours, Jno. J. Rebman.” 

Croton Landing, March 30, 1870. 

« I am very much pleased with your ‘ Fatherland 
Series.’ Yours, truly, W. B. Askam.” 

College Hill , 0 ., March 30, 1870. 

« Enclosed pleased find 85 cents for Ren<£, which I read 
with zest, and think it to be a good book for our American 
youth. Yours in X., J. C. Brodfueiirer.” 

Newton , Iowa , April 7, 1870. 

“Your new books, translations from the German, are 
highly popular. Go on with the good work. We are glad 
to get them as fast as published. 

“Yours in Gospel bonds, H. S. Cook.” 

Smithsburg , Md., April 2, 1870. 

“ The books are beautiful and good. 

“ Yours, L. J. Bell.” 

Orangeville , III., April 2, 1870. 

“I have just received yours of 25th ult., together with 
the book you sent by mail., I have received three — ‘North 
Sea,’ ‘Anton,’ and ‘Rene,’ which, by the way, are the 
most excellent Sunday-school books I have ever had the 
j. leasure to examine, and I thank God that our Publication 
Society has the honor of bringing them before the public. 

“ Yours, truly, J. K. Bloom.” 

Bainbridge, Pa ., April 2, 1870. 

“Our school here at B. has ordered a copy of each of 
the Fatherland Series. I have read the opening chapter 
of ‘ Rene.’ Our librarian at Maytown, Mr. C. Peck, says 
it is the best Sunday-school book he has read for a long 
time. Yours. F. T. Hoover.” 


8 


York , Pa., April 4, 1870. 

‘‘Please send me ‘Cottage by the Lake.* The othe 
volumes of the Fatherland Series I have. I am much 
pleased with the books. If you publish a thousand volumes, 
send them all to me, and draw on me for the amount they 
cost J. H. Menges.” 

Lockport , April 9, 1870. 

« Since I have three of the Series you are publishing at 
present, I would desire to have the first number — ‘The 
Cottage by the Lake.’ This number you have not sent me. 
Those you sent me I read with great interest, and am much 
pleased with them, and trust they may be largely circulated. 

“Yours, truly, M. Grt.” • 

Canton , O., April 4, 1870. 

“ Enclosed find the amount of your bill for the ‘ Father- 
land Series.* The books are very interesting, and my 
children are delighted with them. 

“Yours, L. M. Kuhns.” 

Harrisburg , April 7, 1870. 

‘Your book entitled ‘Fritz,’ is all right. Go ahead; 
the more of that kind you publish the better. 

“ Your^, fraternally, G. F. Stelling.” 

Selinsgrove, April 6, 1 870. 

“ I am glad to see you bringing out such nice, neat books. 
You can send us one copy of all new publications until 
otherwise ordered. Consider us standing subscribers. 

“ Yours, J. G. L. Shindel.” 

Frostburg, Md., April 6, 1870. 

“‘The Fatherland Series’ I am pleased with. They 
compare favorably with any of the publications of the day 
—are a credit to the Society. 

“Yours, 


H. Bishop ” 


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